A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertin family of France.
Reg. 7711 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 flammes d'arg., rangées en fasce et trianglées de trois bâtons d'or.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1501
Where the Bertin Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Bertin arms are recorded
The Bertin arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1501.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 XII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XII of France
1498–1515
Reigning in France when the Bertin 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Bertin Family in France
The family name Bertin finds its roots in the Germanic name Berht, which translates to bright or famous. By the early 16th century, the family was firmly established in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France. During this period, the area was a crossroads of culture and trade, often caught between the influence of the French crown and the Holy Roman Empire. Records from 1501 confirm that members of the Bertin family were active participants in the local society of this mountainous province. They were likely involved in the agricultural and administrative life of the region, which was then known for its strong local traditions and distinct legal customs. As the family grew, they became a part of the social fabric that defined this rugged borderland, helping to shape the history of the community through their work and daily lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
A Germanic element meaning bright or famous.
This name
BertinDerived from a diminutive form of names containing the element bright.
also spelled
Bertyn
Bertine
Related arms
Bouchartrecorded with Bertin, same area
Bruneaurecorded with Bertin, same area
Buryrecorded with Bertin, same area
Delmontrecorded with Bertin, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bouchard, Gérard, Histoire des familles et généalogie, 1996
Archives départementales du Doubs, Série B: Cours et juridictions, 1501
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
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fireZeal and purification
fireZeal and purification
