A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Quesnel family of France.
Reg. 4989 · French, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, acc. de deux étoiles du même.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Quesnel Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Quesnel arms are recorded
The Quesnel arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Quesnel 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Quesnel Family in France
The surname Quesnel is deeply rooted in the history of Normandy, France, where it emerged as a locative name derived from the Old French word *quesne*, meaning oak tree. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent oak forest or a specific landmark defined by these trees. By 1663, the family was well-established within the Norman region, living through a period of significant social and agricultural development. During the seventeenth century, individuals bearing this name were often involved in the rural life of the province, working the land or participating in the local trade networks that connected Normandy to the rest of the kingdom. As the family grew, their presence became a fixture of the Norman landscape, reflecting the deep ties that many families of that era held to their ancestral soil before the waves of migration to the New World began to spread the name across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Chesne
Old French term for an oak tree.
This name
QuesnelA topographic name for someone who lived near an oak tree or an oak forest.
also spelled
Kesnel
Quennel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Mousnier, Roland. La famille, l'enfant et l'éducation en France au XVIIe siècle. 1975
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
