A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sénéchal family of France.
Reg. 1746 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même; au chef d'azur, ch. de deux branches de lis, passées en croix.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Sénéchal Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Sénéchal arms are recorded
The Sénéchal 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 Sénéchal 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 Sénéchal Family in France
The name Sénéchal originates from a high-ranking medieval office rather than a simple nickname or location. In the Middle Ages, a sénéchal was a powerful official who managed a lord’s estate, oversaw justice, and led military forces in the absence of the ruler. When surnames became common in France, families who held this prestigious title often adopted it as their own to signify their status and administrative history. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Sénéchal family were well-established in the Normandy region of France. These early settlers were part of the wave of French citizens who helped shape the social and agricultural landscape of the province during the seventeenth century. Their presence in Normandy suggests that the family had moved away from the royal courts of the past and integrated into the local community as landowners and tradespeople.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
siniscalcus
A Germanic term meaning oldest or senior servant of a household.
This name
SénéchalA title for a high-ranking official or steward in a medieval royal or noble household.
also spelled
Seneshal
Related arms
le Seneschalvariant spelling
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
