Map of France showing where the Bascle arms are recorded
The Bascle arms were recorded in Bearn, c. 1663.
Bearn was Pyrenean country with its own laws and a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many families counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield to be told apart.
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 Bascle 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 Bearn.
Origin & History of the Bascle Family in France
The family name Bascle finds its historical roots in the region of Béarn, located in the southwestern corner of France near the Pyrenees Mountains. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which was historically known for its unique legal customs and strong sense of regional independence. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a local nickname tied to the geography or the specific dialect spoken in the Béarnais countryside. During the seventeenth century, families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they maintained ancestral homes passed down through generations. These early Bascle ancestors were part of a society that valued land ownership and local tradition, helping to anchor the family name firmly within the social fabric of the province long before the major political changes of the French Revolution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Basculus
A Latin diminutive term meaning a small vessel or container.
This name
BascleA topographic name for someone living near a small basin or valley.
also spelled
Bascle
Lagreze
Baskel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tucoo-Chala, Pierre. Petite histoire du Béarn. 1997
Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
