A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biddle family of France.
Reg. 2260 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
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 chaudières de saline de sa.; à la bord. du même. C.: un griffon iss. de sa., coll. d'une couronne d'or. D.: DEUS CLYPEUS MEUS.”
FranceEtats-Unis, c. 1725
Where the Biddle Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Biddle arms are recorded
The Biddle arms were recorded in Etats-Unis, c. 1725.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Biddle 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 France.
Origin & History of the Biddle Family in France
The Biddle family name has roots that stretch back to the historical region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal area. The name itself is thought to have evolved from early occupational or descriptive terms used in local dialects, reflecting the daily lives and roles of ancestors in their community. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the unique cultural and linguistic landscape of Bretagne. Over time, the family name served as a link to these early origins, marking their presence in a land defined by its strong maritime traditions and deep historical identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bede
Old English word meaning prayer or a request.
This name
BiddleA topographic name for someone who lived near a prayer chapel or a beadle.
also spelled
Bydle
Biddell
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Bretagne)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Pitre-Chevalier, Pierre, La Bretagne ancienne et moderne, 1844
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cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
