Map of France showing where the Senegal arms are recorded
The Senegal 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 Senegal 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 Senegal Family in France
The history of the Senegal family name traces back to the seventeenth century in the Normandy region of France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established within this coastal province. During this period, Normandy was a hub of agricultural activity and maritime trade, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of early ancestors. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or locative surname, which was common practice in France at the time to identify individuals by the specific place or region where they resided. As these early family members lived through the complex social shifts of the French monarchy, they helped form the foundation of a lineage that would eventually expand far beyond its northern European origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Senegallus
Latinized form referring to a person from the region of Senegal.
This name
SenegalA locative surname originally denoting an individual who originated from the Senegal region.
also spelled
Seneshal
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Baudot, Marcel, Histoire de la Normandie, 1970
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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
