A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belliard family of France.
Reg. 4628 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
columnFortitude and constancy
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or au cheval cabré de sa.; au 2 de gu. aux débris d'un temple d'arg.; au 3 de gu. à trois piramides d'Egypte d'arg., à diverses distances, et sur le devant un palmier du même émail.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Belliard Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Belliard arms are recorded
The Belliard arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Belliard 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 Belliard Family in France
The family name Belliard has deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, France, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1725. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the old French word "bel," meaning beautiful or fair, and was likely used as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor before becoming a permanent surname. Families with this name were often integrated into the local agricultural and artisanal communities of the Breton countryside during the eighteenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local economy and the distinct cultural identity of Brittany. By tracking parish records from this era, historians can see how the Belliard name spread through various towns and villages, reflecting the steady movement and growth of families in rural France long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bel
Derived from the Germanic element meaning fair, beautiful, or handsome.
This name
BelliardA diminutive or patronymic form indicating a descendant of someone who was fair or handsome.
also spelled
Beliard
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
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms 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.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
columnFortitude and constancy
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
horseReadiness to serve king and country
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
columnFortitude and constancy
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
