A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godel family of France.
Reg. 5920 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De sin. au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois lions du même.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Godel Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Godel arms are recorded
The Godel arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Godel 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Godel Family in France
The family name Godel has deep roots in the historical region of Lorraine, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name is generally considered a variant of the Germanic name Godo, which functions as a short form for longer names beginning with the element "god," meaning god or good. During the seventeenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture, often caught between the influence of the French crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Families in this area frequently adapted their surnames to reflect local dialects or shifting political borders. As the Godel family established themselves in this region, they likely worked as farmers or tradespeople within the rural villages that defined the landscape of eastern France. Their presence in the historical record during the mid-1600s suggests they were part of the stable, land-holding population that helped shape the social fabric of the Lorraine countryside during a time of significant regional transition.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gode
Derived from the Germanic element god meaning good or god.
This name
GodelA diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone named with the root god.
also spelled
Gaudil
Godel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Barthélemy, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle. Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine, 1663
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
