A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellis family of France.
Reg. 4038 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
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 bars d'arg., passés en saut”
FranceComtat-Venaissin, c. 1663
Where the Bellis Arms Were Recorded
Comtat-Venaissin
Map of France showing where the Bellis arms are recorded
The Bellis arms were recorded in Comtat-Venaissin, 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.
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 Bellis 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 Bellis Family in France
The family name Bellis has deep roots in the Comtat-Venaissin region of France, where records confirm their presence by at least 1663. This area, located in the modern-day Vaucluse department, was historically unique because it was governed by the Papal States rather than the French monarchy until the late eighteenth century. Families living in this territory often navigated a blend of local Provençal traditions and administrative influence from the Vatican. The name itself is thought to be derived from the Latin word bellus, which translates to beautiful or handsome. Over many generations, the Bellis family became well-established within the local social fabric, likely participating in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined the Rhone Valley. By settling in this specific region, the family became part of a distinct cultural enclave that maintained its own legal and religious customs for centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bellis
Derived from the Latin word bellus meaning beautiful or handsome.
This name
BellisA habitational name referring to someone who lived near a beautiful place or a daisy flower.
also spelled
Belis
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Vaucluse, État civil et registres paroissiaux du Comtat-Venaissin
Benoist, Jean-Pierre, Histoire du Comtat-Venaissin, 1982
Moulinas, René, Les Juifs du Pape en France, 1981
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
