A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baras family of France.
Reg. 7877 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
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 une croisette d'or ; au chef du premier, ch. de deux glands du sec., tigés et feuillés de sin.”
ArtoisArtois, c. 1663
Where the Baras Arms Were Recorded
Artois
Map of France showing where the Baras arms are recorded
The Baras arms were recorded in Artois, c. 1663.
Artois lay on the disputed ground between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms, and a shield was how a fighting household was known.
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 Baras 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 Artois.
Origin & History of the Baras Family in France
The surname Baras finds its historical roots in the northern regions of France, specifically within the province of Artois. By the year 1663, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in this area, which was a vital crossroads for trade and agriculture during the seventeenth century. The name itself likely evolved from local geographic markers or descriptive nicknames common to the Picardy and Artois dialects of the time. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the local social fabric of the region, participating in the rural economy and the community life that defined life in northern France during the reign of King Louis XIV. This early presence in Artois suggests that the family was part of the stable, land-holding population that helped shape the development of the province before it became a more permanent part of the French kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bar
A Celtic or Gaulish term referring to a summit or height.
This name
BarasA topographic name for someone who lived near a hill or mountain peak.
also spelled
Baraz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil, 1663
Brillon, Pierre-Jacques, Dictionnaire des noms de famille de France, 1750
Gosse, François, Histoire de la province d'Artois et de ses habitants, 1892
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
