A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bérard family of France.
Reg. 0922 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. en p. d'un croiss. du même; au chef du sec., ch. de trois papillons de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bérard Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bérard arms are recorded
The Bérard arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bérard 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bérard Family in France
The surname Bérard originates from the ancient Germanic name Berhard, which combines the elements for bear and brave or hardy. This name became popular across medieval Europe because it represented strength and courage. By the time the family was firmly established in the Brittany region of France in 1663, the name had evolved into a common hereditary surname used to identify specific lineages. Families bearing this name during the seventeenth century were often part of the rural or merchant classes who lived in the coastal provinces. These early Bérards were likely farmers, tradespeople, or local officials who helped shape the social structure of their communities. As they settled into the Breton landscape, they became part of the long history of families who maintained the traditions and regional identity of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berhard
A Germanic compound meaning bear and brave or hardy.
This name
BérardA French patronymic surname derived from the Germanic personal name meaning brave bear.
also spelled
Berart
Berar
Related arms
Berrardvariant 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 départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
