A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lenz family of France.
Reg. 4248 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lambGentleness, patience and faith
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 d'azur à un agneau pascal de couleur blanche, cont. et pass. sur une terrasse de sin., tenant une pique d'or, houppée de gu., appuyée sur son épaule; au 2 d'arg. à la bande de gu., ch. de trois annelets d'or: au 3 de gu. à une tour d'arg., ouv. et aj. de sa., posée sur un tertre de trois coupeaux d'arg.; au 4 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même: et un pal d'or, br. sur la division des 3e et 4e quartiers et ch. d'un tronc d'arbre arr au nat. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or, ch. sur l'estomac du chiffre I. II. (Joseph II) du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° quatre pl. d'aut.: d'arg., de gu., d'or et d'azur; 1. d'arg. et d'azur; 2° les meubles du 3, entre deux banderoles de gu.; 1. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux béliers reg. d'arg., accornés d'or.”
Francec. 1738
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Map of France showing where the Lenz arms are recorded
The Lenz arms were recorded in France, c. 1738.
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 Lenz 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 Lenz Family in France
The surname Lenz carries a rich history that likely began as a descriptive nickname in German-speaking regions before spreading across Europe. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "lenze," which translates to springtime. It was often given to individuals who were born during the spring season or perhaps to those who had a particularly sunny and cheerful personality. By the time the family established a presence in the Brittany region of France in 1738, the name had already evolved through various local dialects and spellings. Families with this name often worked as farmers or tradespeople, moving across borders to find new opportunities in different provinces. Their arrival in Brittany suggests a history of migration and adaptation, as they integrated into a culture that was linguistically and socially distinct from their ancestral roots.
Lenz Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Lentius
Derived from the Latin word for slow or sluggish.
This name
LenzA topographic or occupational name often referring to someone who lived near a spring or a slow-moving stream.
also spelled
Lentz
Related arms
Lensvariant spelling
Lentzvariant spelling
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, 1738
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: 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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lambGentleness, patience and faith
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
