Map of France showing where the Benso arms are recorded
The Benso 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 Benso 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 Benso Family in France
The family name Benso possesses deep roots in the historical landscape of Brittany, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1725. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a given name, reflecting the common naming customs of the region during the early eighteenth century. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they played essential roles in local agriculture and trade. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social fabric of the Breton countryside, participating in the daily life and religious traditions of their parishes. By maintaining a consistent presence in the region, the Benso family helped preserve the unique cultural identity of Brittany through generations of labor and community involvement.
Benso Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Benedictus
Latin for blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BensoA patronymic surname derived from the given name Benoit, signifying son of the blessed one.
also spelled
Bensso
Benzo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gautier, Hervé, Dictionnaire des noms de famille de Bretagne, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
