Map of France showing where the Barcelos arms are recorded
The Barcelos arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Barcelos 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 Provence.
Origin & History of the Barcelos Family in France
The family name Barcelos finds its roots in the Iberian Peninsula, where it was historically linked to the town of Barcelos in northern Portugal. By the middle of the seventeenth century, members of the family had moved beyond these borders and established a documented presence in the Provence region of France by 1663. During this era, families often migrated due to shifting political alliances, trade opportunities, or religious movements that spanned across Southern Europe. As the family settled into their new surroundings in France, they integrated into the local social and economic structures of the time. This migration highlights the mobility of families during the early modern period as they sought new beginnings while maintaining the identity associated with their ancestral origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barca
Latin term for a small boat or vessel.
This name
BarcelosDerived from a place name referring to a location near a boat landing.
also spelled
Barcillon
Barsilon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (1663)
Piel, Joseph M., Os nomes de lugar: Barcelos, 1976
Sanches de Baena, Visconde de, Archivo heráldico-genealógico contendo notícias historico-biographicas dos filhos illustres de Portugal e várias famílias, 1872
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
saltire coupedResolution, and the cross of St Andrew
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
