A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beville family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 0535 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de sa., acc. de trois perroquets de sin., bq. et m. de gu., au chef du meme, ch. de trois béliers pass. d'arg.”
BerryBerry, c. 1663
Where the Beville Arms Were Recorded
Berry
Map of France showing where the Beville arms are recorded
The Beville arms were recorded in Berry, c. 1663.
Berry was central French farming country, quiet and long-settled. Its estates were modest and stayed in the same hands for centuries, and steady landholding of that kind is exactly what puts a name into the heraldic records.
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 Beville 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 Berry.
Origin & History of the Beville Family in France
The family name Beville finds its historical roots in the central French province of Berry, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. The name is believed to be locational in origin, likely derived from the Old French term for a small village or a specific settlement area. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the local land and agricultural life. As the Beville family settled in Berry, they became part of the social fabric of rural France during a time of significant transition under the monarchy. Their presence in this province suggests they were likely landowners or local officials who played a role in the administration of their community. By maintaining their roots in this specific region, the early members of the family helped define the name as a fixture of the local landscape for generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la croix d'arg., acc. en chef de deux fleurs-de-lis d'or et en p. de deux coquilles du sec.”
SwitzerlandNeufchâtel, c. 1745
Where the Beville Arms Were Recorded
Neufchâtel
Map of Switzerland showing where the Beville arms are recorded
The Beville arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, 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 Beville Family in Switzerland
The history of the Beville family in Switzerland is rooted in the picturesque region of Neuchâtel, where records confirm their presence by the year 1745. During this period, Neuchâtel was a unique principality that maintained a complex political relationship with the Prussian monarchy while operating under its own local customs and social structures. Families like the Bevilles often integrated into the local economy through trade, craftsmanship, or agricultural management, which were the primary ways to establish a stable life in the Swiss cantons during the eighteenth century. Living in this area meant navigating a society that valued community ties and religious identity, as the region had been deeply shaped by the Protestant Reformation. By settling in Neuchâtel, the early members of the Beville family became part of a vibrant cultural crossroads where French and Swiss influences blended together. Their presence in the historical record serves as a window into the lives of families who helped build the social fabric of the Jura mountain region during the Enlightenment era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bullValour and generosity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ar. a bull pass. gu”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Beville Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Beville arms are recorded
The Beville arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Beville arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Beville Family in England
The Beville family name has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where members of the family were firmly established by the early 17th century. The name is thought to have originated from the French place name Beauville, which translates to beautiful town. Following the Norman Conquest, families with French origins often settled in the southwestern regions of England, bringing their traditions and naming customs with them. By the year 1620, the Bevilles were active participants in the local life of Cornwall, often serving as landowners and community leaders. Their presence in this region reflects a long history of migration and integration into the English social structure. Over time, the family name became synonymous with the distinct culture of the Cornish peninsula, marking their transition from newcomers to a recognized part of the local heritage.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beauville
Derived from the French words for beautiful and town or estate.
This name
BevilleRefers to a person who originated from a beautiful village or settlement.
also spelled
Bevill
Bevile
Bevel
Beavill
Related arms
Beavillvariant spelling
Besvillevariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Cher, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Cher, 1663
Beauchet-Filleau, Henri, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles du Poitou, 1891
Moréri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire Historique, 1759
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