Map of France showing where the Meaney arms are recorded
The Meaney arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Meaney 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Meaney Family in France
The family name Meaney carries a history that reaches back into the mountainous region of Dauphiné in southeastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established within this area, which was known for its rugged landscape and strategic importance near the Alps. During the seventeenth century, families in this province often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers or artisans. The name likely evolved as a way to identify these individuals within their local parishes as they navigated the social and political changes of the French kingdom. Over time, the family moved beyond these regional borders, carrying their name and heritage into new territories while maintaining the legacy of their early roots in the Dauphiné countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Magnus
Latin term meaning great or large in size or importance.
This name
MeaneyDerived from a nickname for a person of great stature or high social standing.
also spelled
Mene
Menay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Collection de documents sur l'état civil de la province du Dauphiné
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fireZeal and purification
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fireZeal and purification
