A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biard family of France.
Reg. 7964 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à trois aigles de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Biard Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Biard arms are recorded
The Biard 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 Biard 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 Biard Family in France
The surname Biard has deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, France, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1663. The name is believed to have originated as a nickname derived from the Old French word "biard," which was often used to describe someone with a reddish or chestnut-colored beard. During the seventeenth century, families in this coastal province were frequently tied to the land or maritime trades, and the Biard name appears in local parish registers that document the daily lives of farmers and craftsmen. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of rural Brittany, contributing to the agricultural and local community development that defined the region during the reign of King Louis XIV. Over time, the name spread from these early Breton settlements, reflecting the migration patterns of families moving between inland villages and the bustling port towns of the French Atlantic coast.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bihard
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning brave or hardy.
This name
BiardA surname of Germanic origin signifying a person who is bold, courageous, or strong.
also spelled
Byard
Biart
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
