Map of France showing where the Menagh arms are recorded
The Menagh arms were recorded in Anjou, c. 1663.
Anjou was rich valley country along the Loire, with a dense scatter of small manors. Its gentry were numerous rather than wealthy, and even a modest holding was enough to justify a shield of one's 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 Menagh 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 Anjou.
Origin & History of the Menagh Family in France
The Menagh family name has roots that stretch back to the seventeenth century in the historic province of Anjou, France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this region, which was known for its fertile river valleys and deep ties to the French monarchy. During this period, the name was often associated with local landholders and craftsmen who played a vital role in the rural economy of western France. As the family grew, some members eventually moved away from Anjou to seek new opportunities in other parts of Europe and across the Atlantic. This migration helped the name evolve as it adapted to different languages and regional customs, yet it remained a link to their ancestral home in the heart of the Loire Valley.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mene
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for strength or power.
This name
MenaghA locative or patronymic surname likely referring to a descendant of someone named Mene.
also spelled
Menages
Menagier
Menag
Menazh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Maine-et-Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Célestin Port, Dictionnaire historique, géographique et biographique de Maine-et-Loire, 1874
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
