A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bere family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4206 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois léopards d'azur, arm. et cour. de gu.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Bere Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bere arms are recorded
The Bere arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Bere 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Bere Family in France
The family name Bere traces its roots in France to the historic region of Normandy, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1663. During the seventeenth century, Normandy was a vibrant center of agricultural and maritime activity, and families like the Bere line were often deeply connected to the local land and the evolving social structures of the French countryside. The name itself likely emerged from local geographic features or descriptive nicknames common in the Old French language spoken at the time. As residents of a coastal province, these early ancestors lived through a period of significant transition as the French monarchy consolidated power and expanded its influence over provincial life. By maintaining a documented presence in Normandy during this era, the Bere family became part of the long-standing demographic history of northern France, contributing to the cultural and economic development of their local parishes before many families began to expand their reach across the continent and beyond.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. three bears' heads, sa. muzzled or”
DevonMorebath · Devon, c. 1620
Where the Bere Arms Were Recorded
Devon
Map of England showing where the Bere arms are recorded
The Bere arms were recorded in Devon, c. 1620.
Devon was a county of small manors and seafaring families. Its gentry were spread thickly across the countryside, and money made at sea often bought an estate, which in turn brought a coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Bere arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Devon.
Origin & History of the Bere Family in England
The surname Bere is deeply rooted in the landscape of medieval England, particularly within the southwestern county of Devon. The name is topographical in origin, meaning it was likely adopted by families who lived near a "bearu," which is an Old English term for a grove or a wooded area. By the early 17th century, the Bere family had established a firm presence in Devon, as evidenced by local records from 1620 that place members of the family within the region’s social and agricultural fabric. During this era, families often took their names from the specific parcels of land they farmed or the natural landmarks that defined their homesteads. This connection to the local geography suggests that the ancestors of the Bere family were long-standing inhabitants of the English countryside who helped shape the rural development of the West Country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bera
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for bear.
This name
BereA topographic name for someone living near a bear habitat or a nickname for a strong person.
also spelled
Berre
Beer
Related arms
Berrevariant spelling
Bearevariant spelling
Beervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Baudot, Marcel, Histoire de la Normandie, 1970
Le Maho, Jacques, La Normandie au Moyen Âge, 2002
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
