Map of France showing where the Beisel arms are recorded
The Beisel arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Beisel 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Beisel Family in France
The surname Beisel originates from German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely developed as a descriptive nickname or a variation of occupational names. Many families carrying this name were part of the steady migration of people moving from the German Palatinate and surrounding areas toward the British colonies in the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Beisel family were already established in the rugged landscape of Maine. These early settlers lived in a challenging frontier environment that required them to adapt quickly to harsh winters and the demands of coastal life. Their presence in New England so early suggests they were among the determined pioneers who sought new opportunities across the Atlantic during a time of significant social and political change in Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baisel
Derived from the Germanic word for a kiss or affectionate greeting.
This name
BeiselA nickname for an affectionate or demonstrative person, often used as a term of endearment.
also spelled
Boizelle
Boisselle
Boizell
Bwazel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Banks, Charles Edward. History of York, Maine. 1931
Maine State Archives. York Deeds. 1663
Strassburger, Ralph Beaver. Pennsylvania German Pioneers: A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. 1934
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