Map of France showing where the Bast arms are recorded
The Bast arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1570.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Bast 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 Bast Family in France
The family name Bast has deep roots in the Lorraine region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1570. During this era, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and trade, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. The name likely originated as a nickname or a shortened form of a longer given name, which was a common practice for families living in rural communities at the time. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local social fabric, often working as skilled tradespeople or landowners who helped shape the agricultural landscape of the province. Over the centuries, the family maintained a presence in this borderland, adapting to the shifting political boundaries and the unique cultural blend that defined the history of Lorraine.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sebastianus
Derived from the Greek word sebastos meaning venerable or revered.
This name
BastA shortened form of Sebastian, historically used as a topographic name for someone living near a bast fiber processing area.
also spelled
Baeste
Bast
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bastien, Henri, Histoire de la Lorraine et de ses familles, 1954
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la province de Lorraine, 1570–1792
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
