A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bick family of France.
Reg. 3948 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 d'azur à une gerbe d'or: au chef d'arg., ch. à dextre d'une tête de chien et à sen. de la partie supérieure d'une tour crén.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à trois monts d'arg., mouv. de la p., acc. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, rangées en chef.”
FranceAosta, c. 1842
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Map of France showing where the Bick arms are recorded
The Bick arms were recorded in Aosta, c. 1842.
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.
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 Bick Family in France
The surname Bick is deeply rooted in the linguistic landscape of Northern Europe, where it often functioned as a descriptive name for individuals living near a stream or a small brook. While the name appears in various Germanic regions, the family established a notable presence in the Brittany region of France by 1842. During this period, the family likely integrated into the local agricultural or maritime communities that defined the coastal life of the area. As families moved across borders during the nineteenth century, the name Bick traveled with them, adapting to the phonetic patterns of the French language while maintaining its distinct ancestral identity. This migration reflects a broader pattern of movement where families sought new opportunities in the diverse provinces of France, eventually rooting their history in the unique cultural traditions of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bic
Old French term referring to a sharp point or mountain peak.
This name
BickA topographic surname for someone who lived near a pointed hill or mountain summit.
also spelled
Bych
Bick
Bik
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales du Morbihan. État civil, registres de naissances, mariages et décès. 1842
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