Map of France showing where the Bard arms are recorded
The Bard 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 Bard 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 Bard Family in France
The family name Bard finds its deep roots in the rugged landscape of the Auvergne region in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this mountainous territory. Historians often link the name to the Old French word "bard," which was commonly used to describe a pack-saddle or the equipment used for a beast of burden. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely worked as muleteers or transporters who navigated the steep, winding paths of the Massif Central. Living in such a remote and volcanic area required great resilience, and the family name became a permanent fixture in the local parish registers as they built their lives through agriculture and trade. Over time, the name became synonymous with the hardworking people who helped sustain the economy of the Auvergne highlands during the seventeenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. on a chev. betw. eight martlets sa. five plates”
LincolnNorth Kelsey · Lincoln, c. 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of England showing where the Bard arms are recorded
The Bard arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Bard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Bard Family in England
The family name Bard has deep roots in the English landscape, with historical records placing members of the family in the city of Lincoln as early as 1620. The name itself is thought to have originated as an occupational surname, likely referring to a poet or a traveling minstrel who performed songs and stories in medieval courts and villages. Over time, families with this name settled into various roles within local communities, moving from itinerant performers to established landowners and tradespeople. By the seventeenth century, the Bards in Lincoln were part of the growing middle class, participating in the civic and social life of one of England’s oldest cathedral cities. Their presence in the region during this era suggests a family that was well-integrated into the local economy and the shifting political climate of early modern England.
Bard Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Bardo
A Germanic word meaning axe or battle-axe.
This name
BardAn occupational name for a poet, minstrel, or a person who carried an axe.
also spelled
Barde
Bardd
Bardt
Related arms
Bairdvariant spelling
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
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
