A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Nel family of France.
Reg. 0132 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un épi effeuillé d'or, posé en bande; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un dauphin nageant sur une mer, le tout au nat., celui du 4 cont. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss. de carn., ceint et cour. de roseaux, tenant de sa main sen. un trident de fer. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Francec. 1709
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Map of France showing where the Nel arms are recorded
The Nel arms were recorded in France, c. 1709.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Nel 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 Nel Family in France
The name Nel is a short and ancient surname that traces its roots back to the coastal region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1709, records confirm that members of the Nel family were well-established within this rugged landscape, where they likely lived as farmers or coastal traders. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older Germanic or French nicknames, often serving as a shortened form of names like Corneille or Daniel. Because Bretagne was a region with its own distinct language and strong local traditions, families like the Nels were deeply connected to their specific parishes and local communities. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in the region, reflecting the quiet and steady history of families who lived off the land and the sea for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cornelius
Derived from the Latin word for horn.
This name
NelA diminutive form of names ending in -nel, often associated with horn-like strength.
also spelled
Nelle
Nells
Nel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
dolphinSwiftness, charity and love
