A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beneville family of France.
handFaith, sincerity and justiceJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à trois mains sen. appaumées d'or.”
The Beneville arms were recorded in Provence, c. 1663.
Provence was old country, with towns dating to the Romans and families who traced their land back nearly as far. Its gentry were many and long-settled, and long settlement is what fills a register.
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.
Reigning in France when the Beneville arms are first recorded.
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 family name Beneville traces its roots to the sun-drenched region of Provence in southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents in this area. The name itself is likely derived from a combination of Latin terms meaning good and village, suggesting that the original ancestors may have been associated with a specific, prosperous settlement or a well-regarded piece of land. During the seventeenth century, families in Provence often lived in tight-knit communities centered around agriculture and local trade. As the Beneville family grew, they became part of the social and economic fabric of the region, navigating the complex political changes of the French monarchy. Their presence in local parish registers and legal documents from this period highlights their role as active participants in the daily life of their community long before the modern era.
A settlement or estate characterized by being good or pleasant.
