Leclerc Families Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
Two golden lions on a red field below a gold field with a lantern and three bolts of lightning, two angled and one horizontal, all in black.
External ornaments
A "Viking Helmet"is on top of the shield; grapevines are on each side of the shield as supports; a banner with the motto "Dignes de Nos Pères" meaning "Worthy of Our Fathers" is across the bottom of the shield.
Symbolism
Hallmark: The Viking helmet recalls the nordic origins of the Leclerc ancestors
Supports: The two collections of grapevines symbolizes their stay on Île d'Orléans, formerly called Île de Bacchus by Cartier.
Motto: Indicates the attachment the Leclerc families had for their ancestors.
Fields: The red background field symbolizes the enthusiasm of the ancestors to defend their rights and language.
Two Lions: Are found in the armies of Normandy and their territories. They recall the origin of the first Leclerc who, leaving Normandy, settled on Île d'Orléans.
Gold:signifies material richness, both of the Île and of Normandy. The combination of gold and red signify the spiritual richness, those of the mind, the will and the heart. The ancestors were rich in virtue and talent, and the coat of arms characterizes the spiritual and material value of them.
Header: is a position of honor, found on all the coat of arms of the nobles and the rich as a title of glory or honor. The Leclerc families had no nobility of rank or blood, but they had those of heart and spirit, that they passed on to their descendants.
Beacon: The lantern or fisherman's lantern recalls the tales of witches and marsh gases of l'Île d'Orléans. The light of the lantern was one of the first symbols of the Leclerc name.
Sand: Sand means black. The color black is the most symbolic; the most mysterious; the real truth and also of legends.
Helmet: In white metal, underlines the desire for peace that each member of the Leclerc families wanted spread throughout his family and across the world.
Grapevines: Green and red, expresses the strong and deep union of all the Leclercs, and the respective value of each of the Leclerc families.