A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellenger family of France.
Reg. 8828 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à deux épées d'arg., garnies d'or, passées en saut. et accostées de deux petits poignards d'arg., la pointe en bas.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Bellenger Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bellenger arms are recorded
The Bellenger 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 Bellenger 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 Bellenger Family in France
The surname Bellenger traces its roots to the historic region of Normandy in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living through a period of significant social and agricultural development. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Old French term for a bell-ringer, suggesting that early ancestors may have held important roles within their local parish or community. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of Norman life, eventually participating in the waves of migration that saw many French families move across the Atlantic to settle in the New World. This transition marked a new chapter for the family, as they carried their traditions and identity from the coastal plains of France to the developing colonies of North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berengar
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bear and spear.
This name
BellengerA locative surname referring to someone from the town of Bellenger in Normandy.
also spelled
Belenger
Bellengier
Belanger
Related arms
Hindenlangsimilar arms
Somnettesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil. 1663
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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
