A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beal family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4060 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au palmier de sin., surm. d'un merle au nat. et accosté de deux étoiles d'azur.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Beal Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Beal arms are recorded
The Beal arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Beal 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Beal Family in France
The family name Beal traces its roots to the historic province of Lyonnais in east-central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this region, which served as a vital crossroads for trade and culture between the Rhône and Saône rivers. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Old French word "bel," meaning beautiful or fair, and it likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor before becoming a permanent surname. Living in the Lyonnais area during the seventeenth century placed the family at the heart of a bustling agricultural and silk-weaving economy. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of the rural and urban communities that defined this part of France long before the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. on a chev. betw. three wolves' heads erased ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Beal Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Beal arms are recorded
The Beal 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Beal arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Beal Family in England
The family name Beal is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically within the historic county of Yorkshire. The name is topographical in origin, likely derived from the Old English word "beag," which refers to a bend in a river or a curved piece of land. By the early 17th century, the family had established a firm presence in the city of York, a major hub for trade and administration in the north. During this period, members of the Beal family were integrated into the local community, living through an era of significant social and political transition in England. As the 1620s began, the family was part of the urban fabric of York, contributing to the daily life and commerce of a city that served as the primary gateway to the northern regions of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bel
A Latin-derived term meaning beautiful or fair.
This name
BealA topographical name for someone who lived near a beautiful place or a fair meadow.
also spelled
Beall
Beale
Beel
Bealle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Lyonnais
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Moreri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire historique ou le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane, 1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
