A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Niel family of France.
Reg. 8698 · French, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De gu. à l'aigle de sa.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois étoiles d'or.”
ProvenceProvence, c. 1663
Where the Niel Arms Were Recorded
Provence
Map of France showing where the Niel arms are recorded
The Niel arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Niel 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 Provence.
Origin & History of the Niel Family in France
The family name Niel has deep roots in the sun-drenched region of Provence, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name itself is likely a variation of the ancient name Nigel, which was popular across Europe during the Middle Ages. In the local dialect of southern France, names often evolved through regional pronunciation, leading to the shortened and distinct form of Niel. Families with this name were typically involved in the agricultural and merchant life of the Mediterranean landscape, contributing to the local economy and community structure of the time. By the mid-seventeenth century, the Niel name was well-established within the social fabric of the region, reflecting a long history of settlement and continuity in the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cornelius
Derived from the Latin word for horn.
This name
NielA French patronymic form of Neil, signifying a descendant of a horn-wearer or champion.
also spelled
Neel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Var, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
