A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Banton family of France.
dolphinSwiftness, charity and loveJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au dauphin d'arg.”
The Banton 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.
Reigning in France when the Banton arms are first recorded.
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.
The Banton family name finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During the seventeenth century, this region was a distinct province with its own unique customs and social structures. Families like the Bantons often lived in small rural parishes where they worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the local economy of the coastal towns. Because the name is closely tied to this specific area, it likely evolved from a local nickname or a description of the land where early ancestors settled. Over time, the family became part of the fabric of Breton society, maintaining their traditions and community ties as they navigated the challenges of life in pre-revolutionary France.
A Germanic element related to a banner, flag, or standard.
