A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertino family of France.
Reg. 2636 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à trois hures de sanglier d'arg.”
SaintongeSaintonge, c. 1663
Where the Bertino Arms Were Recorded
Saintonge
Map of France showing where the Bertino arms are recorded
The Bertino arms were recorded in Saintonge, c. 1663.
Saintonge was western coastal country in France, living on salt, wine and the sea. Merchant families bought estates with their profits, and an estate brought 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 Bertino 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 Saintonge.
Origin & History of the Bertino Family in France
The surname Bertino traces its roots to the historic province of Saintonge in western France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this coastal region, which was known for its salt production and proximity to the Atlantic trade routes. The name itself is a variation of the Germanic name Bert, which means bright or famous, combined with a suffix that often indicated a person of smaller stature or a younger member of a household. During the mid-seventeenth century, families in Saintonge were often deeply involved in local agriculture or maritime commerce. As the region faced significant religious and political changes during this era, many families like the Bertinos maintained strong ties to their local parishes and community landholdings. This early presence in Saintonge suggests that the family was part of the foundational social fabric of western France before many individuals began to migrate toward other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
A Germanic element meaning bright, famous, or illustrious.
This name
BertinoA diminutive form of names containing the element bright, signifying a famous or brilliant person.
also spelled
Bertinault
Bertino
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Charente-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Saintonge, 1663
Pélissier, Pierre, Histoire des familles de la Saintonge et de l'Aunis, 1984
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
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boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
