A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bachman family of France.
Reg. 6694 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
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'or à une sirène de gu., pautrée de sin., chevelée de sa., la tête posée de front, nageant sur une mer en p., et décochant une flèche d'un arc [La branche de Clèves - Bachmann - porte les mêmes armes, sans mer en p.]”
Francec. 1725
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Bachman arms are recorded
The Bachman arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Bachman 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bachman Family in France
The surname Bachman is primarily rooted in Germanic origins, where it functioned as an occupational name for a person who lived near or worked at a stream. The name is derived from the German words "Bach," meaning brook or stream, and "Mann," meaning man. While the name is most commonly associated with Central Europe, the presence of the family in the Bretagne region of France by 1725 suggests a period of significant migration. During the early 18th century, many families moved across European borders to seek new agricultural opportunities or to escape regional conflicts. By settling in Bretagne, the Bachman family likely adapted their traditional naming customs to fit the local French linguistic landscape while maintaining their ancestral identity. This movement highlights how families historically carried their heritage across diverse cultural regions, blending their original trade-based surnames into new communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bach
A German term referring to a small stream or brook.
This name
BachmanA person who lived near a small stream or worked as a miller.
also spelled
Bachmane
Bachmann
Bachmans
Bahkman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
