A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellème family of France.
Reg. 3123 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 trois chev. de gu.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Bellème Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bellème arms are recorded
The Bellème 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 Bellème 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 Bellème Family in France
The family name Bellème originates from the historic region of Normandy in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well established within the local communities of the province. The name itself is linked to the town of Bellême, which served as a significant stronghold during the Middle Ages. Families often adopted the names of their home towns to distinguish themselves as they moved or grew in status. In the seventeenth century, the people bearing this name were likely involved in the agricultural or artisanal life that defined the Norman landscape. These early ancestors lived during a time of great social change in France, and their presence in the regional records highlights their role in the long history of the Norman people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bel
Derived from the Gaulish or Latin term meaning beautiful or fair.
This name
BellèmeRefers to a place of beauty or a settlement associated with a fair location.
also spelled
Bellemmes
Bellem
Belem
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gautier, Henri, Histoire de la ville de Bellême, 1904
Archives départementales de l'Orne, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
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