Map of France showing where the Bastone arms are recorded
The Bastone arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bastone 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bastone Family in France
The surname Bastone likely originated as a descriptive nickname rooted in the Old French word "baston," which translates to a staff or a club. During the medieval period, such names were often given to individuals based on their physical stature, their profession as guards, or their skill in handling a staff. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Bastone family were established in the region of Bretagne. Living in this coastal area of northwestern France, these early ancestors were part of a distinct cultural landscape defined by its unique traditions and maritime history. As the family settled into the local community, the name became a permanent marker of their identity, passed down through generations as they navigated the social and economic changes of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bastum
A Latin term referring to a pack, burden, or staff.
This name
BastoneAn occupational name for a carrier or someone who carried a staff or walking stick.
also spelled
Bastone
Bastun
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (Familles et seigneuries)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cinquefoilHope and joy
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cinquefoilHope and joy
