A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellanger family of France.
Reg. 8904 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 bande d'azur.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bellanger Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bellanger arms are recorded
The Bellanger arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 Bellanger 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bellanger Family in France
The surname Bellanger has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1663. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive occupational or nickname, likely derived from the Old French word "bel," meaning beautiful or fair, combined with a suffix that often denoted a specific trade or personal trait. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were frequently tied to the land and local parish life, which helped preserve their names through generations of church registrations and tax records. As the family grew, members moved throughout the western provinces, carrying the name into various local industries and social circles. This early presence in Bretagne suggests that the Bellanger lineage was part of the traditional social fabric of the region long before the modern era of record-keeping began.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berengar
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bear and spear.
This name
BellangerA habitational name for someone originating from the town of Bellanger in France.
also spelled
Belanger
Belanzhay
Related arms
* **Belanger**variant spelling
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, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
