A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bastin family of France.
fretPersuasion, and the net that holdsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. fretté d'or.”
The Bastin arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bastin arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Bastin has deep roots in the historical region of Provence, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the name Sebastian, which was a popular choice across Europe during the Middle Ages. Over time, families often shortened long names to create nicknames that eventually became permanent surnames. In the rural landscapes of southern France, the Bastin family likely worked as farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of their villages. Because Provence was a crossroads for trade and travel, the family name spread through the region as people moved to find work or start new households. This history reflects the common experience of many families who established their identities through daily labor and community life in the seventeenth century.
Derived from the Greek word sebastos meaning venerable or revered.
