A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Forstner family of France.
Reg. 9570 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à deux bandes d'arg.; au 2 d'or à un bûcheron, iss. du coupé par les genoux, hab. d'une chemise d'arg. au baudrier de gu., d'un haut-de-chausses de sa., coiffé d'un chapeau du même, tenant une hache levée de sa. et posé devant un tronc d'arbre de gu., poussant une branche feuillée de sin. vers sen.; au 3 de sa. à un bûcheron iss. par les genoux de la p., hab. d'une chemise d'arg. au baudrier de gu., d'un haut-de-chausses d'or, coiffé d'un chapeau du même, tenant une hache levée d'or et posé devant un tronc d'arbre de gu., poussant une branche feuillée de sin. vers sen.; au 4 de sa. à deux bandes d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le bûcheron du 2, iss.; entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L. conformes aux émaux des prob.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Forstner Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Forstner arms are recorded
The Forstner arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Forstner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Forstner Family in France
The family name Forstner originates from the German language and is rooted in the occupational title of a forester or someone who managed woodland areas. As families moved across Europe for work or trade, the name traveled with them, eventually appearing in the historical records of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this period, families with this surname were often integrated into local communities as skilled laborers or land managers. The transition of the name into a French-speaking region suggests that the family was likely part of the broader patterns of migration that saw German-speaking individuals settling in various parts of Western Europe to pursue new opportunities in agriculture and forestry. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in the local population, reflecting the family's ability to adapt to new cultural environments while maintaining their historical identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Forst
A German term referring to a forest or wooded area.
This name
ForstnerAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a forest warden or forester.
also spelled
Forstner
Dambenois
Forstner Dambenwa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
