A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bassin family of France.
Reg. 3853 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, ch. en chef d'un croiss. de sa., et acc. de quatre roses d'arg., 3 en chef, côtoyant la bande, et 1 en p.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1522
Where the Bassin Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Bassin arms are recorded
The Bassin arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1522.
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 Bassin 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 Bassin Family in France
The family name Bassin has deep roots in the Lorraine region of eastern France, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1522. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from the Old French word "bassin," which refers to a basin or a low-lying valley. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family were identified by the specific landscape where they lived or worked. During the sixteenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and trade, and families living there were often shaped by the shifting borders and agricultural traditions of the duchy. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their communities through farming, craftsmanship, or trade. Over the centuries, the name persisted as a marker of their ancestral connection to this distinct geographic area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bassin
Derived from the Latin word bassus meaning thick or low.
This name
BassinA topographic name for someone living near a basin or a low-lying depression.
also spelled
Bassyn
Basin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Lepage, Henri, Les archives de Nancy, ou documents inédits relatifs à l'histoire de cette ville, 1863
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
