Map of France showing where the Bissainthe arms are recorded
The Bissainthe arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they 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 Bissainthe 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Bissainthe Family in France
The family name Bissainthe traces its roots to the historical region of Normandy in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, living during a time when Normandy was a major hub for maritime trade and agricultural development. The name itself likely evolved from local geographic markers or descriptive nicknames common to the Norman dialect of the seventeenth century. As the family grew, their presence in this coastal province positioned them to participate in the broader movements of the French population during the colonial era. This early period in Normandy provided the foundation for the family identity, linking their history to the distinct cultural and social traditions of northern France before the name eventually spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Saint
Derived from the Latin sanctus meaning holy or sacred.
This name
BissaintheLikely refers to a person living near a specific holy site or sanctuary.
also spelled
Boissaints
Boissaintt
Bwasan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Série B (Cours et juridictions)
Beaurepaire, Charles de, Dictionnaire topographique du département de la Seine-Inférieure, 1887
Le Cacheux, Paul, Inventaire sommaire des archives départementales antérieures à 1790, 1913
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
