A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bergstedt family of France.
Reg. 2746 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
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'arg. au lion de sa., lamp. de gu. C.: le lion, iss., le dos orné de trois boules d'arg. T.: à dextre un Indien agenouillé, ceint et cour. de plumes d'arg. et de gu.; à sen. un chevalier, arm. de toutes pièces, coiffé d'un bonnet de gu. sortant d'une couronne à l'antique d'arg., tenant de sa main dextre un bâton de commandement de gu. D.: AUFRICHTIG UND TREU.”
AlsaceBade · Alsace, c. 1773
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of France showing where the Bergstedt arms are recorded
The Bergstedt arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1773.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their own.
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 Bergstedt 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 Alsace.
Origin & History of the Bergstedt Family in France
The surname Bergstedt is a topographic name that originates from the Germanic languages, combining the words for mountain or hill and a place or city. While the name is often associated with regions in Scandinavia and Germany, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Alsace region of France by 1773. During this period, Alsace was a cultural crossroads where German and French influences blended together. Families living in this area often navigated complex political shifts as the region moved between different administrative powers. The Bergstedt name likely traveled into this territory through the migration of craftsmen or farmers seeking new opportunities in the fertile Rhine valley. By settling in Alsace, these early ancestors became part of a unique regional history defined by a mix of linguistic traditions and rural community life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg and Stedt
Mountain or hill and a place, settlement, or town.
This name
BergstedtA habitational name referring to a settlement located on or near a mountain or hill.
also spelled
Berstet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1773
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
