A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beauval family of France.
Reg. 6624 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'un lion léopardé de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Beauval Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Beauval arms are recorded
The Beauval 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Beauval 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 France.
Origin & History of the Beauval Family in France
The surname Beauval originates from the French language and translates literally to "beautiful valley." This type of name is known as a topographic surname, which was often given to families who lived near a specific geographical feature or in a particularly scenic location. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the Beauval family were firmly established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, families in this part of France were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. Because Bretagne maintained a distinct cultural and linguistic identity during the seventeenth century, the family likely participated in the unique social traditions of the Breton people. Over generations, the name served as a way to identify the family’s connection to their home, marking them as people of the valley within their local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beau and Val
Derived from the French words for beautiful and valley.
This name
BeauvalA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a beautiful valley.
also spelled
Beauvall
Beauvals
Boval
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Les noms de famille de France. 1949
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.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
