A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellemare family of France.
Reg. 7785 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la fasce d'arg., acc. de trois carpes du même”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Bellemare Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bellemare arms are recorded
The Bellemare arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Bellemare 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Bellemare Family in France
The surname Bellemare originates from the historic region of Normandy in northern France. The name is descriptive in nature, combining the French words for beautiful and sea, which likely suggests that the earliest families lived near the rugged coastline or a prominent body of water. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Bellemare family were well-established in this coastal province. During this era, many families in Normandy were deeply involved in agriculture, maritime trade, or local crafts. As the seventeenth century progressed, some individuals bearing this name chose to leave their ancestral home to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America. This migration helped spread the name across the Atlantic, where it became a lasting part of the history of New France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellus and Mare
Latin for beautiful or handsome and the sea or body of water.
This name
BellemareA topographic name for someone who lived near a beautiful sea or lake.
also spelled
Belemare
Belmar
Bellmare
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Library and Archives Canada, Recensement de la Nouvelle-France, 1666
Tanguay, Cyprien, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes depuis la fondation de la colonie jusqu'à nos jours, 1871
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
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
