A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buisson family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 9866 · Belgian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 semé de fleurs-de-lis d'or; au bâton du même, br. sur le tout.”
HainautHainaut, c. 1737
Where the Buisson Arms Were Recorded
Hainaut
Map of Belgium showing where the Buisson arms are recorded
The Buisson arms were recorded in Hainaut, c. 1737.
Hainaut sat on the border between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a working thing.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Buisson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hainaut.
Origin & History of the Buisson Family in Belgium
The surname Buisson originates from the Old French word for a bush or a thicket, and it was historically used as a topographic name to describe families who lived near a prominent cluster of trees or dense vegetation. In the context of Belgium, the family established a notable presence in the province of Hainaut by the early eighteenth century, with documented records confirming their residence in the region by 1737. During this era, Hainaut was a landscape defined by its transition between different European powers, and families like the Buissons were often part of the local agrarian or artisan classes that formed the backbone of the rural economy. As the name spread through the French-speaking regions of Belgium, it remained closely tied to the geography of the land, reflecting a time when a person's identity was deeply rooted in the specific plot of earth they cultivated or inhabited. This history highlights how the family name evolved from a simple description of a natural landmark into a lasting identifier for generations of people living within the borders of the Southern Netherlands.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'or au buisson de sin., terrassé du même; au chef d'arg., ch. d'un lion iss. de sa. S.: deux lions d'or.”
Francec. 1624
Where the Buisson Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Buisson arms are recorded
The Buisson arms were recorded in France, c. 1624.
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 XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in Belgium when the Buisson 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 Buisson Family in France
The surname Buisson originates from the Old French word for a bush or a thicket, and it was traditionally used as a topographic name to describe someone who lived near a prominent cluster of shrubs or a wooded area. In the context of seventeenth-century France, such names were often adopted by families to identify their specific landholdings or their proximity to notable natural landmarks within their local parish. By 1624, historical records confirm the presence of the Buisson family in the region of Bretagne, a province known for its distinct cultural identity and rural landscape. During this era, families in Bretagne were deeply connected to the land, and the name likely served as a practical way to distinguish one household from another in a society where most people lived in small, interconnected farming communities. As the family established itself in the region, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral roots in the French countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
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'or à trois buissons de sin., 2”
SwitzerlandGenève, c. 1745
Where the Buisson Arms Were Recorded
Genève
Map of Switzerland showing where the Buisson arms are recorded
The Buisson arms were recorded in Genève, c. 1745.
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 Buisson Family in Switzerland
The surname Buisson originates from the Old French word for a bush or a thicket, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent cluster of trees or a dense patch of woodland. In the context of Switzerland, the name became firmly established in the region of Genève by the mid-eighteenth century. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local social and economic fabric of the city, which served as a major crossroads for trade and intellectual exchange in Europe. By 1745, records indicate that the Buisson family was already well-settled within the Genevan community, participating in the daily life of a city known for its strict governance and vibrant artisan culture. These early generations helped shape the local identity of the area, transitioning from their rural linguistic roots into the urban landscape of one of Switzerland’s most historically significant cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Boscum
A Latin term referring to a wood, forest, or thicket.
This name
BuissonA topographic name for someone who lived near a bush or a small wooded area.
also spelled
Buysson
Buison
Busson
Related arms
Bressisimilar arms
Caensimilar arms
Casiersimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: State Archives in Mons (Archives de l'État à Mons), Registres paroissiaux de la province de Hainaut
Book: Herbillon, Jules and Germain, Jean, Dictionnaire des noms de famille en Belgique romane et dans les régions limitrophes, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
lionCourage, strength and royalty
