A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Besson family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5487 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au lion d'or; au chef d'arg., ch. de deux tourterelles affr. de sa.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Besson Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Besson arms are recorded
The Besson arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Besson 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Besson Family in France
The name Besson is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southeastern France, particularly within the mountainous region of Dauphiné. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in local communities, where they often worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term, likely derived from the Old French word "besson," which meant a twin. In early rural societies, such nicknames were commonly used to distinguish between individuals or to identify family branches within a village. As the Besson family grew in Dauphiné, they became part of the social fabric of the region, participating in the parish life and agricultural cycles that defined life in the French Alps during the 1600s. Their presence in these historical records highlights a long legacy of stability and community involvement that has persisted for centuries.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la bande d'azur, ch. d'une fleur-de-lis d'or et acc. de deux lions de gu.”
SwitzerlandFribourg Suisse, c. 1745
Where the Besson Arms Were Recorded
Fribourg
Map of Switzerland showing where the Besson arms are recorded
The Besson arms were recorded in Fribourg Suisse, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Besson Family in Switzerland
The family name Besson has deep roots in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland, particularly within the canton of Fribourg. Historical records confirm that members of the Besson family were established residents of this area by 1745. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive term, likely derived from the Old French word "beson," which referred to a twin. In the social structure of the eighteenth century, families like the Bessons often played vital roles in the local agricultural and artisanal economies of the Swiss plateau. As they settled in Fribourg, they became part of the long-standing tradition of Swiss citizenship, where families maintained strong ties to their specific home communes for generations. By documenting their presence in parish registers and local administrative files, these early ancestors helped shape the demographic landscape of the region during a time of significant transition in Swiss history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bisse
A term derived from Latin referring to a twin or double.
This name
BessonA topographic or occupational surname historically used to identify a twin or a second-born child.
Related arms
Ammanrecorded with Besson, same area
Habichrecorded with Besson, same area
Morierrecorded with Besson, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauphiné Departmental Archives, État civil de la province du Dauphiné, 1663
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Nègre, Ernest, Toponymie générale de la France, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
