A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Abbeville family of France.
Reg. 5477 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois bandes d'or, acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis du même, rangées en chef.”
PicardiePicardie, c. 1663
Where the Abbeville Arms Were Recorded
Picardie
Map of France showing where the Abbeville arms are recorded
The Abbeville arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he 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 Abbeville 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Abbeville Family in France
The family name Abbeville originates from the historic region of Picardie in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well established within the local community. The name itself is locative, meaning it was likely taken from the town of Abbeville, which served as a significant administrative and religious center during the Middle Ages. Families living in or near this town often adopted the name to identify their place of origin as they traveled or moved to neighboring villages. Because Picardie was a region defined by its proximity to the coast and its role in trade, families like the Abbevilles were often involved in the agricultural and merchant life that sustained the area for generations. This connection to the land and the local town identity helped the family name persist throughout the centuries as a marker of their deep roots in northern French history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Abbatis villa
The estate or farmstead belonging to an abbot.
This name
AbbevilleA habitational name referring to a person from the town of Abbeville in northern France.
also spelled
Abeville
d'Abbeville
Abvil
Related arms
Gerard de la Censiesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boulanger, Jacques, Histoire de la Picardie, 1925
Lourdel, Charles, Histoire d'Abbeville, 1910
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
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
