A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernardon family of France.
Reg. 9364 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois pommes d'or.”
OrleanaisOrleanais, c. 1663
Where the Bernardon Arms Were Recorded
Orleanais
Map of France showing where the Bernardon arms are recorded
The Bernardon arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Bernardon 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Bernardon Family in France
The surname Bernardon is a diminutive form of the name Bernard, which carries the Germanic meaning of brave as a bear. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family was well-established in the Orleanais region of France. Records from 1663 confirm that members of the family lived in this area, which was known for its fertile soil and proximity to the Loire River. During this period, families in Orleanais were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade guilds. The name Bernardon likely served to distinguish younger family members or specific branches of the larger Bernard lineage as they settled into the rural communities surrounding the city of Orléans. This transition from a simple given name to a permanent family surname reflects the way many French families solidified their identities during the reign of King Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and brave or hardy.
This name
BernardonA diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone named Bernard, meaning brave bear.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Loiret, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
