A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellan family of France.
Reg. 4663 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à trois bandes de sa.; aux 2 et 3 losangé d'or et de sa.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Bellan Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Bellan arms are recorded
The Bellan arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Bellan 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Bellan Family in France
The family name Bellan finds its historical roots in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. This mountainous area, nestled between the Alps and the Rhône River, was a rugged landscape that shaped the lives of its inhabitants through agriculture and local trade. The name itself is thought to be a variation of regional terms related to the landscape or perhaps a nickname derived from local dialects spoken in the valley communities. Families in this era often lived in small, tight-knit villages where they were deeply connected to the land and the changing political fortunes of the French provinces. By maintaining a presence in Dauphiné during the seventeenth century, the Bellan family participated in the long history of a region known for its resilience and its strategic importance to the French crown.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus
Latin term meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BellanA locative or descriptive surname referring to someone living near a beautiful place or possessing a handsome appearance.
also spelled
Bellane
Belan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de la commune de Mens, 1663
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement français au Canada, 1996
Chevalier, Ulysse, Toponymie historique du Dauphiné, 1868
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
