Show ContentsDange History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Dange has a long French heritage that first began in the northern region of Normandy. The name is derived from when the family lived in the former province of Anjou, which comprised parts of southern Armorica, Indre-et-Loire, and Sarthe. The ancient capital of Anjou was Angers and, from the 10th century, this region was a countship belonging to the Plantagenet dynasty. Anjou was attached to the English Crown in 1156, after Henry II, the son of the Count of Anjou, became King of England. However, the territory was recovered by Philippe II in 1206 and, in 1487, the province was secured as Crown land by the French Crown.

Early Origins of the Dange family

The surname Dange was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where the family held a family seat from ancient times.

Some of the family emigrated to England as in the Domesday Book of 1086, "several of the name are found. The principal land-owner among them, who is supposed to have been of Breton origin, held considerable estates in Devonshire under Baldwin de Meules." 1

"John de Aunger served as knight of the shire for Leicester in three of Edward I.'s parliaments, and in the first held by Edward II. Josceline D'Aunger in 1169 witnessed the foundation charter of Lanercost Abbey, and Ralph de Angers in the thirteenth century held lands in Wilts. Ralph de Aungers was Sheriff of Notts, 49 and 50 Henry III. " 1

Early History of the Dange family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dange research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1060, 1083, 1568, 1629, 1634, 1638 and 1720 are included under the topic Early Dange History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dange Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Dange is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Anger, Angers, Angier, Ange, Dange, d'Angeros, Dangeros, d'Anger, d'Ange, d'Angier, d'Angers, Anget, Angay, Angey, Angé, d'Anget, d'Angay, d'Angey, d'Angé, Angger, Anggers, Anggier, d'Angger, d'Anggers, d'Anggier, Ager, Agey, d'Agey, Ageais, d'Ageais, Aggeais, Lange, Angerot, Dangerot, d'Angerot and many more.

Early Notables of the Dange family

Notable amongst the family in this period was

  • Courillon, Marquess of Dangeau
  • The Marquis Phillippe de Courcillon Dangeau (1638-1720), a chronicler, who accompanied Louis IV on many of his campaigns

Migration of the Dange family

French settlers came early to North American, following in the wake of the explorers, and creating New France. Quebec City, founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain is said to have been the first American site founded as a permanent settlement, rather than as just a commercial outpost. But emigration was slow, in 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 French people in Quebec, and by 1663, when the region was officially made The Royal Colony of New France, by Louis XIV, there still only around 500 settlers. Over 2,000 would arrive during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted immigrants, both noble and commoner from France. By 1675, there were around 7000 French in the colony, and by that same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Despite the loss of the Colony to England, the French people flourished in Lower Canada. Among settlers to North America of the Dange surname were Elizabeth Anger settled in Virginia in the year of 1723; Nicolas Anger settled in the province of Québec, in Pointes-aux-Trembles, by the year of 1685..



The Dange Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fides
Motto Translation: Faith.


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 1 of 3


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