A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barges family of France.
Reg. 4511 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 palé d'or et de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur plein. C.: une tête de lion.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Barges Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Barges arms are recorded
The Barges arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Barges 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Barges Family in France
The family name Barges has deep roots in the historical province of Forez, located in east-central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this region, which was then a significant area for agriculture and local trade. The name itself is thought to be topographic, likely derived from the Old French word "barge," which referred to a small boat or a riverside structure used for storage. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have lived near the Loire River or its tributaries, working in professions related to water transport or river commerce. Over time, the family became integrated into the local social fabric of Forez, contributing to the rural life and community development that defined the region during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
barga
A shelter, hut, or wooden structure used for storage or protection.
This name
BargesRefers to someone who lived near or worked in a small hut or storage shed.
also spelled
Barges-Merlieu
Barges
Barzh de Merlyoo
Merlieu
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Forez
Archives départementales de la Loire, Fonds de la justice seigneuriale du comté de Forez
Jérôme Belin, Histoire de la ville et de l'arrondissement de Montbrison, 1844
Auguste Bernard, Histoire du Forez, 1835
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
