A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Tennyson family of France.
Reg. 5694 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 la bande nébulée d'or, ch. en haut d'une couronne de feuillage de sin. et acc. de trois têtes de léopard d'or percées chacune d'une fleur-de-lis du même, 2 têtes en chef à sen., accostées, et 1 en p. à dextre. C.: un bras arm., la main gantelée tenant une lance de tournoi brisée, en barre, passée dans une couronne de feuillage, le tout au nat. S.: deux léopards ramp. de gu. seinés de fleurs-de-lis d'or, couronnés du même, les têtes posées de face. D.: RESPICIENS PROSPICIENS.”
Francec. 1884
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Map of France showing where the Tennyson arms are recorded
The Tennyson arms were recorded in France, c. 1884.
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.
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 Tennyson Family in France
The surname Tennyson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Denis or Dennis. The name evolved over many centuries as it moved through different regions and languages. While the family name is often associated with English history, records confirm that members of the family were living in the Bretagne region of France by 1884. This suggests that the family had established roots across the English Channel long before the late nineteenth century. The name likely shifted in spelling as families migrated between these coastal areas, reflecting the close cultural and linguistic ties between Britain and northwestern France. By the time the family was documented in Bretagne, they were part of a long tradition of people who carried this name through generations of movement and social change.
Tennyson Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Denis
Derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and fertility.
This name
TennysonA patronymic surname meaning son of Denis or follower of the god Dionysius.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, État civil de Bretagne, 1884
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
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
