A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beaudouin family of France.
Reg. 6494 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois aigles d'or, les deux du chef affr., acc. au point du chef d'un soleil d'or.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Beaudouin Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Beaudouin arms are recorded
The Beaudouin arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Beaudouin 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Beaudouin Family in France
The family name Beaudouin originates from the ancient Germanic name Baldwin, which combines the elements for "bold" and "friend." Over many centuries, this name spread from Germanic regions into France, where it became a common surname. By the middle of the 17th century, members of the Beaudouin family were part of the wave of French settlers who traveled to North America to build new lives. Historical records confirm that the family was established in the Maine region as early as 1663. These early settlers were often involved in the difficult work of clearing land and establishing trade along the rugged Atlantic coast. Their presence in the region during this time highlights their role as some of the earliest European pioneers in what would eventually become part of the United States.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baldwin
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold or brave friend.
This name
BeaudouinA French patronymic surname signifying a descendant of a brave and bold friend.
also spelled
Beaudoin
Baudouin
Bodwan
Baldwin
Related arms
Baudouinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours by Cyprien Tanguay, 1871
Maine Historical Society, "Province and Court Records of Maine."
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
