A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bains family of France.
Reg. 9129 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. à un croiss. de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bains Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bains arms are recorded
The Bains arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bains 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 Bains Family in France
The history of the Bains family name is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of northwestern France, specifically within the region of Bretagne. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this coastal area. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, potentially serving as a descriptive term for ancestors who lived near public baths or specific water sources. During the seventeenth century, life in Bretagne was defined by strong regional traditions and a close connection to the land, which suggests that the early Bains family were likely involved in agriculture or local trade. As they moved through the generations, these early settlers helped shape the social fabric of their communities, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the enduring history of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Balneum
Latin term referring to a bath or bathing establishment.
This name
BainsA topographic name for someone who lived near a public bathhouse or a bathing facility.
also spelled
Bain
Bainss
Banz
Related arms
Bainvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Poterie, Henri, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1965
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses des Côtes-d'Armor, 1992
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crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
