A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beccard family of France.
Reg. 9217 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De gu. à l'épée d'arg., la lame engrêlée, garnie d'or, posée en bande, acc. en chef d'une fleur-de-lis d'or et en p. d'une branche de chêne du même, englantée de trois fruits aussi d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1667
Where the Beccard Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Beccard arms are recorded
The Beccard arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1667.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Beccard 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Beccard Family in France
The family name Beccard has deep roots in the historical region of Lorraine, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1667. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a locational identifier during the late Middle Ages in the borderlands between France and the German-speaking territories. In this era, families often moved across these shifting borders due to the frequent conflicts and changing political allegiances that defined the region. The Beccard family likely lived as farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the duchy. Over time, the spelling of the name became fixed through parish registers and local tax records as the family settled into specific villages. By the late 17th century, the presence of the Beccard name in Lorraine suggests a stable lineage that had already survived centuries of regional upheaval.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beccus
A Latin term referring to a beak or a hooked nose.
This name
BeccardA nickname for an individual with a prominent or hooked nose.
also spelled
Becard
Bekard
Bekar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Collection de l'état civil ancien
Bouteiller, Ernest de. Dictionnaire topographique de l'ancien département de la Moselle. 1868
Lepage, Henri. Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département. 1853
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