A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bion family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4149 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 à la fasce d'arg., ch. d'un lion léopardé de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Bion Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bion arms are recorded
The Bion 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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Bion 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 France.
Origin & History of the Bion Family in France
The family name Bion has deep roots in the historical landscape of France, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region of Bretagne as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, the name was associated with families living in a society defined by local parish life and agricultural traditions. In Bretagne, a province known for its distinct cultural identity and strong maritime connections, the Bion name likely evolved alongside the shifting social structures of the era. Families like the Bions often served as the backbone of their local communities, working within the rigid social hierarchies of the French provinces before the major political upheavals of the following century. By tracing these early records, historians can see how the name persisted through generations, reflecting the quiet endurance of families who helped shape the regional history of western France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'azur à deux colombes affr. d'arg., posées sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., chacune tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier de sin., lesdits rameaux passés en saut. C.: un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., sommé d'une colombe d'arg., tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier de sin. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Bion Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Bion arms are recorded
The Bion arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield 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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Bion Family in Switzerland
The family name Bion has deep roots in the Swiss region of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1745. During this period, the city of Bern served as a powerful center of trade and political influence, and families like the Bions were often integrated into the local urban structure as skilled tradespeople or craftsmen. The name itself is thought to be linked to regional linguistic variations, potentially evolving from early nicknames or descriptions of a person’s character or physical traits common in the German-speaking cantons. As these families settled into the rigid social hierarchy of eighteenth-century Switzerland, they became part of the local community records that tracked births, marriages, and property ownership. By maintaining a presence in Bern, the Bion family participated in the steady growth of a region known for its strict record-keeping and organized civic life, which allowed their lineage to be documented across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bonus
Latin term meaning good or virtuous.
This name
BionA nickname for a good or kind-hearted individual.
also spelled
Byon
Bionn
Bione
Beeon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Poterie, Michel, Histoire de la Bretagne et des Bretons, 1978
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
