A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Billis family of France.
Reg. 5741 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'azur au chev. d'or, acc. en p. d'un lis du même, tigé et feuillé de sin.; au chef du sec., ch. d'une mouch. d'herm. de sa. entre deux tourt. du même.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
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Map of France showing where the Billis arms are recorded
The Billis arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Billis 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Billis Family in France
The family name Billis has deep roots in the historical region of Guyenne in southwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this territory. During the seventeenth century, Guyenne was a vibrant area known for its agricultural wealth and its strategic importance as a wine-producing hub. Families living in this region often relied on the fertile lands near the Garonne River to sustain their livelihoods. The name likely developed as a way to identify specific households or individuals within these tight-knit rural communities. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric that defined life in the French provinces before the major political shifts of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from Germanic elements meaning resolute protector or helmet of will.
This name
BillisA patronymic form originating from a diminutive of the name William.
also spelled
Bayllias
Bailliaz
Balyas
Bailias
Baylias
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Papy, Michel, La vie quotidienne en Guyenne au XVIIe siècle, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
ermineDignity and rank
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
