A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bec family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
heronPatience and quiet watchfulnessJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à trois grues d'or.”
The Bec arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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 Bec 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 Bec has deep roots in the sun-drenched region of Provence, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. In the French language, the word "bec" refers to a bird’s beak, and it was often used as a nickname for someone with a sharp nose or a particularly talkative nature. During the seventeenth century, families in southern France were often tied closely to the land and the local parish community. Life in Provence at this time was defined by agricultural traditions and the influence of the Catholic Church, which kept careful track of births, marriages, and deaths. As the Bec family established themselves in the region, they became part of the social fabric of their villages, contributing to the local economy and the unique cultural identity of the French Mediterranean coast.
cross symbolChristian faith and serviceSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Gu. a cross moline ar”
The Bec arms were recorded in England, c. 1295.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bec 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 family name Bec has deep roots in the medieval landscape of England, particularly within the northern city of York. By the year 1295, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this region. The name itself is thought to derive from the Old Norse word bekkr, which translates to a stream or a brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name likely lived near a prominent water source or a small river. During the late thirteenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration in Northern England. Families like the Becs were often integrated into the local economy and social structure of the city during this period of growth. Their presence in the historical record at this time highlights how the family name was firmly planted in English soil long before the modern era.
A Gaulish or Latin term referring to a beak or pointed object.
