A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Franzel family of France.
Reg. 1254 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une masse d'armes d'or, le manche brisé sur le milieu, la tête en bas et armée de picotons, l'extrémité du manche muni d'un anneau dans lequel est passé une courroie de sa. en forme de chevron. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un faucon cont. au nat., chaperonné de gu., sommé d'un panache de plumes de paon du même, grilleté et longé d'or; 1. d'or et de gu.; 2º à dextre une prob. coupée d'or sur sa., et à sen. une demi-ramure de cerf d'or; 1. d'or et de sa. D.: EHRE UND RECHT.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Franzel Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Franzel arms are recorded
The Franzel 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 Franzel 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 Franzel Family in France
The surname Franzel carries a rich history that traces back to the distinct cultural landscape of Bretagne in the early eighteenth century. By 1725, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this region of northwestern France. The name itself likely evolved as a regional variation of names derived from the Germanic root for a free man, which spread across Europe through migration and trade. During this period, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities where they worked in agriculture or maritime industries. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the unique traditions and linguistic heritage of the Breton people. Over time, the name served as a marker of their specific lineage and their connection to the historic landscape of the French coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Francus
A member of the Germanic tribe known as the Franks.
This name
FranzelA diminutive form derived from the Germanic name Francis, meaning a free man.
also spelled
Franzel
Frentzel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Goff, Jean, Les noms de famille en Bretagne, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
