A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Betton family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7858 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
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 six fleurs-de-lis d'arg.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Betton Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Betton arms are recorded
The Betton arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Betton 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Betton Family in France
The family name Betton finds its roots in the historic region of Bretagne, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1663. The name is closely tied to the geography of the area, specifically the commune of Betton located just north of Rennes. In the seventeenth century, families often took their surnames from the lands they inhabited or the parishes where they held property. As residents of this part of France, the Betton family would have been part of the local social fabric during a time of significant administrative change under the French monarchy. Life in Bretagne during this period was shaped by strong regional traditions and the influence of the Catholic Church, which meticulously recorded births, marriages, and deaths in parish registers. These early records provide the primary evidence for the family's presence, showing them as rooted members of the community long before the modern era of record-keeping began.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. a pile ar. in the dexter chief a crescent or”
Scotlandc. 1748
Where the Betton Arms Were Recorded
Edinburgh
Map of Scotland showing where the Betton arms are recorded
The Betton arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in France when the Betton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Betton Family in Scotland
The history of the Betton family in Scotland is rooted in the urban development of Edinburgh during the mid-eighteenth century. While the name likely originated from English locations, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of the Scottish capital by 1748. During this period, Edinburgh was undergoing a significant transformation as the city began to expand beyond its medieval walls. Families like the Bettons were often part of the growing professional and merchant classes who contributed to the city's intellectual and economic life during the Scottish Enlightenment. By settling in a major center of trade and law, these early family members integrated themselves into the fabric of Scottish society, leaving behind traces in local parish registers and legal documents that highlight their presence in the city’s bustling streets and neighborhoods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baudouin
Derived from the Germanic elements for bold and friend.
This name
BettonA diminutive form indicating a descendant of a bold friend or protector.
also spelled
Beton
Bettonn
Betone
Betoun
Related arms
Bérault de St.-Maurice et de Montmercyrecorded with Betton, same area
Flaggrecorded with Betton, same area
Jacquesson de la Chevreuserecorded with Betton, same area
Jayrecorded with Betton, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Betton
Poterie, Henri, Histoire de Betton, 1978
Vigot, Jean, Dictionnaire historique et géographique de la province de Bretagne, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
