Map of France showing where the Bertelson arms are recorded
The Bertelson arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's 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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bertelson 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Bertelson Family in France
The surname Bertelson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally formed by combining a given name with a suffix indicating lineage. In this case, the name translates to "son of Bertel," a common variation of the Germanic name Berthold. While the name is widely associated with Scandinavian and Northern European roots, historical records confirm that members of the family were present in the Forez region of France by 1663. During this period, the Forez area was a hub of agricultural and artisanal activity, and families often settled in these rural provinces to work the land or engage in local trade. The presence of the family in this specific French province suggests a history of migration or service that moved the name far from its northern origins. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name likely shifted as it moved through different linguistic regions, eventually stabilizing into the form recognized today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
Old Germanic element meaning bright or famous.
This name
BertelsonPatronymic surname meaning son of the bright or famous one.
also spelled
Berthelonn
Berthelot
Berthelone
Bertelon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil (Collection communale)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
