A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bille family of Denmark.
Reg. 8393 · Danish, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Fascé contre-fascé d'azur et d'arg., de quatre pièces. C.: une plume de paon au nat., entre deux prob. fascées de quatre pièces, celle à dextre d'azur et d'arg., celle à sen. d'arg. et d'azur, ornées chacune à l'ext. de trois plumes de paon au nat., dont une dans l'embouchure.”
DenmarkSuède, c. 1722
Where the Bille Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Bille arms are recorded
The Bille arms were recorded in Suède, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Bille arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Bille Family in Denmark
The Bille family name has deep roots in the history of Denmark, with established records confirming their presence on the island of Sjælland by the year 1722. Historically, the family belonged to the landed gentry and played an active role in the social and political life of the region. Many early members of the family served as local administrators or landowners, which helped them maintain a stable influence within their communities over several generations. Because the name is relatively short and distinct, it has remained easily identifiable in parish registers and tax records from the eighteenth century. These documents show that the family was well-integrated into the rural and urban structures of Sjælland, often participating in the agricultural and civic developments that defined the era. By studying these early records, historians can trace how the family managed their estates and contributed to the local economy during a time of significant change in Danish society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bild
Old Norse term referring to a sword or a cutting blade.
This name
BilleA medieval nickname for a person who carried a sword or was a warrior.
also spelled
Bylle
Billa
Beel
Related arms
Andreærecorded with Bille, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dansk Adelsforening, Danmarks Adels Aarbog, 1884
Rigsarkivet, Danske Kancelli: Sjællandske Tegnelser, 1722
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
