A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Benz family of France.
Reg. 8855 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à la demi-aigle d'or, mouv. du parti; au 2 d'azur à une étoile d'arg.; au 3 d'or à l'arbre terrassé de sin. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1º trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux de gu.; 2º une aigle d'or; 3º l'étoile, entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'arg. et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: une licorne d'arg. et un cheval du même, tous deux reg. D.: SIN DEUM ET PRINCIPEM FIDE.”
Francec. 1830
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Map of France showing where the Benz arms are recorded
The Benz arms were recorded in France, c. 1830.
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.
Charles X of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles X of France
1824–1830
Reigning in France when the Benz 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 Benz Family in France
The family name Benz has roots that stretch deep into the history of Central Europe, where it likely began as a shortened version of names like Bernhard or Benedikt. While the name is most famously associated with German-speaking regions, families carrying this surname were well-established in the Brittany region of France by the early nineteenth century. By 1830, these individuals were integrated into the local social fabric of Bretagne, likely arriving through long-standing trade routes or migration patterns that connected the Rhineland to western France. These early ancestors were often skilled workers or tradespeople who moved across borders to find new opportunities in growing coastal towns. Their presence in Brittany highlights how families with German origins adapted to new languages and cultures while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity over many generations.
Benz Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Benedictus
Latin term meaning blessed or well spoken of.
This name
BenzA shortened form of Benedict, indicating a person who is blessed or fortunate.
also spelled
Bents
Bens
Related arms
Bennzvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil, registres de naissances, mariages et décès
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensements de population
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
