A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benoist family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1781 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
handFaith, sincerity and justice
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 trois mains dextres appaumées d'arg.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Benoist Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Benoist arms are recorded
The Benoist arms were recorded in Paris, 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 Benoist 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 Benoist Family in France
The surname Benoist finds its roots in the medieval French language, evolving from the Latin name Benedictus, which signifies someone who is blessed. By the time the family was firmly established in Paris in 1663, the name had become a well-recognized fixture within the urban landscape of the French capital. During this era, families carrying the name Benoist were often integrated into the professional and merchant classes that fueled the growth of Paris under the reign of King Louis XIV. These early ancestors lived through a period of immense cultural and political change as the monarchy centralized its power and the city expanded into a global center of art and administration. Because the name was tied to a common religious sentiment, it appeared frequently in parish registers and legal documents, reflecting a family that was deeply woven into the daily social fabric of seventeenth-century France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au lion de sa., arm. et lamp. de gu.”
HainautHainaut, c. 1737
Where the Benoist Arms Were Recorded
Hainaut
Map of Belgium showing where the Benoist arms are recorded
The Benoist arms were recorded in Hainaut, c. 1737.
Hainaut sat on the border between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a working thing.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in France when the Benoist arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hainaut.
Origin & History of the Benoist Family in Belgium
The family name Benoist has deep roots in the historical region of Hainaut, where members of the family were documented as early as 1737. The name itself is a variation of the Latin word benedictus, which translates to blessed. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Belgium often lived in small agricultural or industrial communities where surnames were passed down through generations of laborers and tradespeople. Because Hainaut served as a crossroads for trade and movement between neighboring regions, the Benoist family likely integrated into the local social fabric by participating in the regional economy and parish life. By the mid-1700s, the name was well-established within the local records, reflecting a history of families who contributed to the growth and stability of their towns during a time of significant transition in the Southern Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Benedictus
Latin term meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BenoistA French surname derived from the Latin word for blessed.
also spelled
Benois
Benoit
Benwa
Related arms
Benoitvariant spelling
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 Nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris, Series Y
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handFaith, sincerity and justice
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
