A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernier family of France.
Reg. 8022 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 la fasce d'arg., acc. en chef d'un barbeau d'or, et en p. d'une clé d'arg., posée en pal.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1538
Where the Bernier Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Bernier arms are recorded
The Bernier arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1538.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Bernier 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 Bernier Family in France
The surname Bernier finds its deep roots in the northern French region of Normandy, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1538. The name itself is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Bernhar, which combines the words for bear and brave or hardy. During the medieval period, it was common for families to adopt names based on these descriptive qualities to signify strength or courage. As the family grew in Normandy, they became part of the local social fabric, often working as skilled tradespeople or landowners in the rural countryside. Over the centuries, the name spread from these northern coastal lands across France, eventually traveling with settlers to North America where it became a prominent name in French Canadian history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for bear and brave or hardy.
This name
BernierA patronymic surname signifying descendant of the one who is brave as a bear.
also spelled
Bernyer
Bernie
Bernyay
Related arms
Bernervariant 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 de la Seine-Maritime. Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
