A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Basta family of France.
Reg. 5567 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 de gu. au cavalier, hab. d'azur, monté sur un cheval galopant d'arg., brandissant une épée du même; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une barre hérissée de flammes, de gu. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa.”
Francec. 1605
Where the Basta Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Basta arms are recorded
The Basta arms were recorded in France, c. 1605.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own 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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Basta 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 France.
Origin & History of the Basta Family in France
The family name Basta has deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1605. While the name is often associated with Mediterranean origins, its presence in northwestern France suggests a history of migration and integration into local Breton society during the early seventeenth century. Families in this region during that era were frequently tied to the land or specific trades, and the name appears in local parish registers that tracked births, marriages, and deaths. These early Basta ancestors likely navigated the complex social structures of the Duchy of Brittany, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the coastal communities of the time. By settling in this distinct cultural landscape, the family became part of the long-standing traditions and regional identity that characterized Brittany before the modernization of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bast
Derived from the Greek name Sebastianos meaning venerable or revered.
This name
BastaA locative or occupational surname likely referring to a maker of bast fiber products.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Poter, Jean-Yves, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
knightChivalry and service in arms
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
