A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bays family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“de gu.] - (crée de gu.”
The Bays arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bays 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 Bays has deep roots in the historical province of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. In the French language, the name is often linked to the term "baie," which refers to a bay or a coastal inlet. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near the rugged shoreline of northwestern France, where the sea has always shaped the local economy and way of life. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct region with its own unique traditions and social structures. Families like the Bays were often connected to the land or the maritime trades that defined the coastal villages of the era. By settling in this specific region, the family became part of a long history of seafaring communities that navigated the complex relationship between the Atlantic Ocean and the French mainland.
lionCourage, strength and royaltySir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. two lions pass. guard. in pale or”
The Bays arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
Reigning in France when the Bays arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The surname Bays has deep roots in the northern regions of England, particularly within the historic city of York. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this area. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely describing people who lived near a bay or a similar body of water. During the seventeenth century, families in York often lived in tight-knit communities where trade and craftsmanship defined their daily lives. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of northern English society, contributing to the development of the region through their work and civic participation. While the exact origins of the name remain tied to the landscape of early England, the presence of the Bays family in York serves as a clear starting point for their long history in the country.
Old French term for a berry or a small fruit.
