A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buyer family of France.
Reg. 3909 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la croix d'arg., cant. de quatre molettes du même.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Buyer Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Buyer arms are recorded
The Buyer arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Buyer 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Buyer Family in France
The surname Buyer traces its roots to the historic Lyonnais region of France, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1663. The name itself is occupational in origin, derived from the Old French word "bayer," which referred to someone who acted as a merchant or a buyer of goods. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often identified by the trade they practiced, and the name suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the active commerce of the local markets. As the family grew, they became integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Lyonnais countryside, living through a period of significant agricultural and regional development. By maintaining a presence in this specific province, the early Buyer family helped shape the local community and contributed to the professional life of the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
boier
Old French term for a herdsman or cattle driver.
This name
BuyerAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a cattle dealer or herdsman.
also spelled
Buyere
Buyier
Buyar
Related arms
du Faysame arms
Larchiver de Kergozsame arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil du Lyonnais, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Moreri, Louis, Le Grand Dictionnaire historique ou le mélange curieux de l'histoire sacrée et profane, 1759
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
