A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beas family of France.
Reg. 5183 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un chêne de sin., englanté d'or, acc. d'un ours pass. de sa., br. sur le fût, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse du sec.”
NavarreNavarre, c. 1663
Where the Beas Arms Were Recorded
Navarre
Map of France showing where the Beas arms are recorded
The Beas arms were recorded in Navarre, c. 1663.
Navarre was mountain country straddling the Pyrenees, with a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many households counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield 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 Beas 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 Navarre.
Origin & History of the Beas Family in France
The family name Beas finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Navarre, a region in northern Spain known for its deep cultural history. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Beas family were well-established residents within this territory. The name itself is closely linked to the geography of the Basque country, as it likely derives from local toponyms or place names that describe the specific terrain where the family lived. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture and local governance, playing active roles in the social fabric of their mountain villages. As the family grew, they maintained a presence in the region, contributing to the unique linguistic and cultural heritage that defines the people of Navarre. Their early history reflects the broader movement of families who helped settle and cultivate the valleys of the Pyrenees during a time of significant transition in Spanish history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biais
Derived from the Old French word for a slanted or oblique direction.
This name
BeasRefers to a person who lived on a sloping piece of land or hillside.
also spelled
Beass
Bayas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Real y General de Navarra, Sección de Procesos Judiciales
Mikel Belasko, Diccionario etimológico de los nombres de los pueblos, villas y ciudades de Navarra, 1999
Florencio Idoate, Rincones de la historia de Navarra, 1963
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
