A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bergier family of France.
Reg. 1469 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une tête de léopard de gu., acc. de trois roses du même.”
BresseBresse, c. 1663
Where the Bergier Arms Were Recorded
Bresse
Map of France showing where the Bergier arms are recorded
The Bergier arms were recorded in Bresse, c. 1663.
Bresse was flat farming country in eastern France, known for its poultry and its markets. Its landed families were modest and long-settled, and steady holding of the same ground is what fills a register.
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 Bergier 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 Bresse.
Origin & History of the Bergier Family in France
The family name Bergier traces its roots to the historical region of Bresse, located in eastern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, which was known for its dense forests and rich agricultural traditions. The name itself is likely derived from the Old French word *berger*, meaning shepherd. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the Bergier family were likely involved in pastoral work or lived in rural communities where sheep farming was a vital part of daily life. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the social and economic fabric of Bresse, transitioning from simple rural laborers to established members of the local community. Their presence in the region during the seventeenth century reflects a time of significant transition in French history, as families began to solidify their identities and settle permanently in the villages of the Bresse countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bergiarius
A person who tends to a flock of sheep.
This name
BergierAn occupational surname for a shepherd or someone who works in the mountains.
also spelled
Bergierh
Bergiere
Berjeer
Berzhier
Related arms
le Bergervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Ain, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la Bresse, 1663
Guigue, Marie-Claude, Topographie historique du département de l'Ain, 1873
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
