A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bodean family of France.
Reg. 0335 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
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'arg. à l'aigle de sa., acc. en chef de deux merlettes du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Bodean Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Bodean arms are recorded
The Bodean arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Bodean 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Bodean Family in France
The family name Bodean finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of the family as early as 1663. During this period, the region was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and language. Families like the Bodeans were often tied to the local agricultural economy, living in small rural parishes where life revolved around the seasonal rhythms of the land and the influence of the local church. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Breton people, reflecting the specific dialect spoken in the western reaches of the country. As members of a community deeply connected to their ancestral soil, the early Bodeans were part of a resilient population that maintained strong local traditions and social bonds throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Baudouin
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bold friend or brave protector.
This name
BodeanA French patronymic surname signifying descendant of the brave protector.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
