Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au loup de sa., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'azur et en p. d'une rose de sin.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellet family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or au loup de sa., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'azur et en p. d'une rose de sin.”
The Bellet arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
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.
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.
The surname Bellet has deep roots in the French landscape, emerging as a descriptive name that likely originated from the Old French word "bel," meaning beautiful or fair. By the time the family was firmly established in Paris in 1663, the name was already associated with urban life and the professional classes of the capital. During this period, families bearing the name were often integrated into the bustling social and economic structures of the city, working as merchants, artisans, or minor officials. Because the name was tied to a common adjective, it likely appeared independently in different regions of France, reflecting a widespread cultural appreciation for the qualities the name described. As the family navigated the complexities of seventeenth-century Paris, they became part of the long tradition of French citizens who helped shape the city’s identity through their daily labor and community involvement.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une tour d'arg., aj. de sa., la porte du même ou. à moitié, devant laquelle est un lion enchaîné d'or; à la bord. du même, ch. en chef d'une croix alésée de gu. et de onze abeilles du même, en orle.”
The Bellet arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
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.
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The family name Bellet has deep roots in the historical landscape of Spain, particularly within the region of Castile. By the early eighteenth century, the family was already established in this area, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in 1722. The name itself is thought to have originated from descriptive terms related to physical traits or local geography, which was a common way for families to identify themselves during the Middle Ages. As the family settled into the social structure of Castile, they likely participated in the agricultural and administrative life typical of the era. Their documented presence in 1722 suggests that the Bellet family had successfully integrated into the local community, maintaining a stable lineage that allowed them to leave a clear mark in the official records of the time.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. a fesse gu. in chief a greyhound of the second (another, the greyhound purp. collared gu.)”
The Bellet arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The name Bellet carries a history that reaches back to the medieval period, rooted in the Old French word for beautiful or handsome. While the name originated on the European continent, families bearing this surname established a firm presence in England by the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the Bellet family were living in the city of York by 1620. During this era, York was a vital center for trade and religious life, and families like the Bellets were often involved in the local merchant guilds or the skilled trades that defined the city’s economy. As they settled into English life, these early families became part of the local community, contributing to the social and professional landscape of Northern England as they navigated the changing political and religious climate of the Stuart period.
Latin term meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.


