A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Billiet family of France.
Reg. 5848 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'azur à huit bill. d'or, 2, 4 et 2; au chef d'arg., ch. de deux têtes de More.”
SavoySavoy, c. 1663
Where the Billiet Arms Were Recorded
Savoy
Map of France showing where the Billiet arms are recorded
The Billiet arms were recorded in Savoy, c. 1663.
Savoy was Alpine country ruled by its own house for eight hundred years. Families there held land and served in arms, and both service and landholding brought recorded shields with them.
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 Billiet 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 Savoy.
Origin & History of the Billiet Family in France
The family name Billiet has deep roots in the mountainous region of Savoy, where historical records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1663. During this period, Savoy was a strategically important territory situated between France and Italy, often governed by the House of Savoy. Families living in this alpine environment were typically tied to the land through agriculture, viticulture, or trade along the vital mountain passes that connected Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. The name Billiet likely originated as a diminutive form of a given name, a common practice in the region where nicknames evolved into permanent surnames to help distinguish between different households in small village communities. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Duchy of Savoy, living through a time of significant political shifts and regional development that shaped the culture of the modern-day borderlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from Germanic elements meaning resolute protector or helmet of will.
This name
BillietA diminutive form of William, signifying a determined guardian or protector.
also spelled
Bylliet
Billie
Bilyay
Biliet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Savoie, État civil et registres paroissiaux de la Savoie
Brouchoud, André, Dictionnaire historique et généalogique des familles de Savoie, 1980
Folliet, Joseph, Histoire de la Savoie, 1968
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
