A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barnier family of France.
Reg. 4136 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'or à un bosquet de sin., et un lion de gu., arm. et lamp. d'azur, issant du bosquet.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Barnier Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Barnier arms are recorded
The Barnier arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify 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 Barnier 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Barnier Family in France
The surname Barnier finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of the Dauphiné region in southeastern France. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was firmly established in this mountainous area, which served as a gateway between the Rhône Valley and the high peaks of the Alps. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the name Barnabé, suggesting that the family likely descended from a common ancestor who lived during the medieval period. Because the Dauphiné was a place of significant trade and movement, families like the Barniers often worked as farmers or local craftspeople who contributed to the development of the region's rural economy. By 1663, the family was well-integrated into the local social fabric, living through a time when the region was transitioning under the authority of the French crown. Their presence in these mountain valleys reflects a long history of resilience and adaptation to the challenging environment of the French Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Barnabé
Derived from the Aramaic bar-nebuah meaning son of consolation or prophecy.
This name
BarnierA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Barnabé or a diminutive form thereof.
also spelled
Barnierr
Barniere
Barnyay
Related arms
Arancysame arms
Cocqueriesame arms
Coquerie (de la) - Brabsame arms
Cornarelsame arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la province du Dauphiné, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
lionCourage, strength and royalty
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
lionCourage, strength and royalty
