A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beltrame family of France.
Reg. 3217 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une croix latine de gu., entre deux pals du même.”
FranceLegagno, c. 1725
Where the Beltrame Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Beltrame arms are recorded
The Beltrame arms were recorded in Legagno, 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 Beltrame 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 Beltrame Family in France
The surname Beltrame traces its roots to the Germanic name Bertram, which combines the words for bright and raven. Over many centuries, this name spread across Europe and evolved into various regional forms as it moved into France and Italy. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the Beltrame family were established in the region of Bretagne. During this period, families in this area were often deeply connected to the local land and maritime trades that defined the coastal economy. As the name took hold in this specific corner of France, it became part of the local social fabric, reflecting the movement of people and the blending of linguistic traditions across the continent.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berhtram
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bright and raven.
This name
BeltrameA surname of Germanic origin signifying a bright or illustrious raven.
also spelled
Beltramay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
