A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bel family of France.
Reg. 2074 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce d'azur, ch. de trois fermaux d'or, acc. en chef de deux hures de sanglier de sa., défendues du champ, et en p. d'une étoile de gu.”
ChampagneChampagne, c. 1663
Where the Bel Arms Were Recorded
Champagne
Map of France showing where the Bel arms are recorded
The Bel arms were recorded in Champagne, c. 1663.
Champagne made its money at its great trade fairs, where merchants from across Europe met. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region carries a lot of names.
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 Bel 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 Champagne.
Origin & History of the Bel Family in France
The family name Bel traces its roots back to the historic Champagne region of France, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1663. In the French language, the name is derived from the adjective meaning beautiful or fair, which likely served as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor before it became a permanent surname. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade, and the Bel family was no exception. Living in the Champagne region meant they were part of a society shaped by the production of wine and the influence of the nearby royal courts. As the family grew, they became deeply woven into the social fabric of their local parishes, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the common linguistic traditions of early modern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus
Latin adjective meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BelA descriptive nickname for a handsome or attractive individual.
also spelled
Bel
Bell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Marne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
