A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belile family of France.
Reg. 5721 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
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. au croiss. d'arg., acc. de cinq coquilles d'or.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Belile Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Belile arms are recorded
The Belile 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 Belile 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 Belile Family in France
The family name Belile traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established within the local community. During this era, life in Bretagne was defined by a strong connection to the land and the sea, as the region functioned as a distinct cultural territory with its own traditions and language. Families like the Beliles often lived in rural parishes where they participated in the agricultural and maritime cycles that sustained the province. As the seventeenth century progressed, the name became linked to the social and economic fabric of the region, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families across the French countryside. This early presence in Bretagne serves as the foundation for the family history, marking the beginning of a lineage that would eventually extend far beyond its original coastal home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus
Latin term meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BelileA diminutive or descriptive term referring to a handsome or beautiful person.
also spelled
Beleisle
Belleil
Belile
Bellisle
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Gall, Jean-Marie, Les Bretons et la mer, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
