A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bienfaite family of France.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mindJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. à l'aigle d'or.”
The Bienfaite arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Reigning in France when the Bienfaite arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Bienfaite originates from the French language and carries a meaning rooted in kindness or good deeds. Historical records confirm that members of this family were established in the region of Bretagne by 1663. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in rural parishes where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Life in Bretagne at this time was heavily influenced by local traditions and the Catholic Church, which kept detailed registers of births, marriages, and deaths. Because the name reflects a positive character trait, it is likely that it began as a nickname for an ancestor who was known for being helpful or generous within their community. Over several generations, this descriptive nickname became a permanent family name that was passed down to children as they moved through the towns and villages of western France.
Derived from the Old French words for good and deed or act.
