A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Belmas family of France.
Reg. 6404 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. à un arbuste d'or, soutenu d'une terrasse du même, le fût accolé d'un serpent d'arg.; au chef du sec., ch. de trois étoiles d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Belmas Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Belmas arms are recorded
The Belmas 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 Belmas 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 Belmas Family in France
The family name Belmas is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Brittany, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1725. During the eighteenth century, the region of Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique customs and social structure. Families like the Belmas often lived in rural parishes where their daily lives were shaped by the local agricultural economy and the influence of the Catholic Church. Because the name appears in regional records during this period, it is likely that the family was part of the local community of farmers, artisans, or tradespeople who sustained the coastal and inland villages of the province. Over time, the name became established within the social fabric of the region, reflecting the migration patterns and family ties that defined life in western France before the French Revolution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bel-Mas
Derived from the Occitan words for beautiful and farm or house.
This name
BelmasA topographic name referring to someone who lived on a beautiful farm or estate.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
serpentWisdom, healing and prudence
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
