A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beshear family of France.
Reg. 7734 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sin. à trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. au lion d'or, ramp. contre un rocher d'arg., mouv. du flanc dextre. Deux cq., le 2 cour. C.: 1º une fleur-de-lis d'arg., sommée d'un panache de trois pl. d'aut. de sa.; 2º un lion assis d'or, cour. du même, sommé d'un panache de plumes de coq de sa., tenant de sa patte dextre levée un poisson d'arg. en pal.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Beshear arms are recorded
The Beshear arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Beshear 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 France.
Origin & History of the Beshear Family in France
The family name Beshear originates from the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1725, records indicate that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name likely evolved from local linguistic roots common to the Breton people, who have a distinct cultural and ancestral history separate from the rest of France. During the early eighteenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the land and the maritime traditions of the Atlantic coast. As the eighteenth century progressed, economic shifts and social changes in France encouraged many families from Bretagne to seek new opportunities. This movement eventually led some members of the Beshear family to migrate across the Atlantic, carrying their name and heritage to North America where the spelling gradually adapted to its current form.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bêche
A spade or digging tool used in agricultural labor.
This name
BeshearAn occupational surname for a person who worked as a digger or laborer with a spade.
also spelled
Beuscherr
Busher
Beusher
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Rennes)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses des Côtes-d'Armor, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
