A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banson family of France.
Reg. 9912 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au massacre de cerf d'or [V. Aubusson comtes de Banson.]”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1663
Where the Banson Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Banson arms are recorded
The Banson arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to arms.
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 Banson 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Banson Family in France
The Banson family name traces its roots to the rugged and mountainous Auvergne region of central France. Historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area by 1663. During the seventeenth century, the people of Auvergne were known for their resilience and strong connection to the land, often working as skilled farmers or craftsmen in the isolated volcanic valleys. The name likely evolved as a patronymic, meaning it was originally used to identify an individual as the son of a man named Ban or a similar variation. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, participating in the parish life and agricultural traditions that defined the Auvergne province before the French Revolution. This early presence in such a distinct geographic region suggests that the Banson ancestors were deeply integrated into the local community for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benoit
Derived from the Latin word benedictus meaning blessed or well spoken.
This name
BansonA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Ben or Benoit.
also spelled
Banzon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Saint-Flour-l'Étang, 1663
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
