A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Becquet family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0016 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en chef de deux pattes d'aigle du même, posées en fasces, les ongles affr., et en p. de trois quintefeuilles d'arg., 2 et 1.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Becquet Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Becquet arms are recorded
The Becquet arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
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 Becquet 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 Becquet Family in France
The family name Becquet finds its roots in the northern regions of France, where it evolved as a descriptive term often linked to the physical appearance or character of an ancestor. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family established a notable presence in the province of Lorraine, a region defined by its complex history of shifting borders and cultural exchange between France and the Germanic states. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the Becquet family were active participants in the social and economic life of this area during a time of significant reconstruction following the devastation of the Thirty Years' War. As the family integrated into the local community, they became part of the resilient population that helped stabilize the region under the influence of the French crown. Their history reflects the broader movement of families who settled into the rural and urban landscapes of eastern France, contributing to the development of local trade and administration through the generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a cross pattée fitchée betw. three martlets gu”
EnglandLondon, c. 1620
Where the Becquet Arms Were Recorded
London
Map of England showing where the Becquet arms are recorded
The Becquet arms were recorded in London, c. 1620.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Becquet arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
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.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Becquet Family in England
The Becquet family name arrived in England as part of the broader movement of French-speaking refugees seeking safety and new opportunities across the English Channel. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the family were already established in London, likely settling in areas with strong ties to the weaving and merchant trades. During this era, London was a bustling hub for immigrants from the Low Countries and France who brought specialized skills in craftsmanship and commerce to the city. These early settlers often integrated into local parish life, where their names were recorded in baptismal and marriage registers. Over time, the family became part of the diverse social fabric of the capital, contributing to the growing economic life of seventeenth-century England while maintaining connections to their continental roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bec
Old French term for a beak or a pointed projection.
This name
BecquetA nickname for someone with a prominent nose or a sharp, pointed facial feature.
also spelled
Becque
Bekett
Beka
Beckett
Becket
Related arms
Becquevariant spelling
Becketvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Lepage, Henri. Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département. 1853
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
cinquefoilHope and joy
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
legStrength and swiftness
cinquefoilHope and joy
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
