A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bièvre family of France.
Reg. 8940 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 fasces de gu.”
PicardiePicardie, c. 1663
Where the Bièvre Arms Were Recorded
Picardie
Map of France showing where the Bièvre arms are recorded
The Bièvre arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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 Bièvre 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 Picardie.
Origin & History of the Bièvre Family in France
The surname Bièvre originates from the French word for beaver, which was historically used to describe people who lived near rivers or those who displayed industrious traits. By the middle of the seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Picardie region of northern France. This area was a vital crossroads for trade and agriculture, which likely influenced the family's early development and movement within the province. During the year 1663, the family was deeply rooted in the local social structure of Picardie, where they participated in the daily life and economic activities of their rural communities. Over time, the name evolved alongside the linguistic shifts of the region, maintaining its connection to the natural landscape that defined their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
beber
A Germanic term referring to the animal known as a beaver.
This name
BièvreA topographic name for someone who lived near a stream inhabited by beavers.
also spelled
Byevre
Beeayvr
Bever
Related arms
le Contesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de la Somme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Picardie, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
