A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Basque family of France.
Reg. 4360 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 d'arg. au soleil d'azur; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au croiss. d'arg.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1539
Where the Basque Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Basque arms are recorded
The Basque arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1539.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his 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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Basque 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Basque Family in France
The family name Basque has deep roots in the Lorraine region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1539. During this period, surnames were often used to identify a person’s place of origin or their cultural background. The name Basque likely served as a descriptor for an ancestor who had migrated from the Basque Country, a distinct region located along the border of modern-day France and Spain. By settling in Lorraine, these individuals carried their cultural identity with them, eventually adopting the name as a permanent family identifier. This transition from a regional label to a hereditary surname reflects the broader historical movement of people across Europe during the sixteenth century as they sought new opportunities in different provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
vasco
Latin term referring to the inhabitants of the Vasconia region.
This name
BasqueA geographical or ethnic identifier denoting a person originating from the Basque Country.
also spelled
Bask
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Lepage, Henri, Les archives de Nancy, ou documents inédits relatifs à l'histoire de cette ville, 1865
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
