History of the family Donzel from Orvin
|
It is one of the families mentioned in "le Rentier de l'Abbaye" of St-Jean de Cerlier in 1507;
Gros Jehan Donzel was recognized as holding lands in feudal benefice belonging to this abbey.
In 1529, Pierre Donzel, long-standing mayor of Orvin, probably the son of the former,
was recognised as holding the same lands in his own account. Another acknowledgement
of 1539, in German, translated the name of Donzel as Junker, which is the correct
corresponding word in that language and means gentleman, squire. One can imagine
that this family, because of its name, is descended from a small vassal lord of a noble
family of the region. One finds this name elsewhere, amongst other places, in the towns
and villages of Neuchâtel. Letters signed D. Donzel, dated 1805; carry the imprints of a seal which probably shows the armorial bearings of this family. The blazon is: d'azur à trois cheminées d'argent réunies par leurs bases, maçonnées de sable et allumées de gueules; à deux étoiles d'or en chef et trois monts de sinople en pointe.  Donzel Armorial Bearings
The above information is taken from "La Seigneurie
d'Orvin".
Printed first at La Chaux-de-Fonds by Courvoisier printing house in 1923, it was printed a second time,
courtesy of Mr. Eric Ferrat, Litho Prestige at Drummondville in Quebec, Canada in 1980.
Family's actualities
If you have more information about this family and if you are interested to put them here contact the webmaster address below! Thank you! |