A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bedeau family of France.
Reg. 2617 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
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. de trois merlettes d'arg., rangées en chef, celle du milieu cour. d'or, et d'une massue du sec. en p.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bedeau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bedeau arms are recorded
The Bedeau arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Bedeau 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bedeau Family in France
The family name Bedeau has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name is likely derived from the Old French word "bedeau," which referred to a minor official or a church beadle. In the medieval period, a beadle served as a messenger or a minor officer who kept order during religious services and public gatherings. Because this was a common occupational title, families living in different areas often adopted the name independently as they took on these civic or religious roles. Over time, the name became a permanent surname passed down through generations in the rural communities of western France. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and administrative life of the Breton countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bédel
A beadle or minor parish official in medieval times.
This name
BedeauA diminutive form referring to a person who served as a minor church or town official.
also spelled
Bedaux
Bedot
Bedault
Bedo
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
maceAuthority, and the officer who bears it
