A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buzzard family of France.
Reg. 7275 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 la fasce de gu., ch. de trois croix recr. d'or et acc. de quatre tourt. d'azur, 3 en chef et 1 en p. C.: une femme iss., hab. de gu., coiffée d'un chapeau de gu., sommé de trois pl. d'aut., une d'or entre deux d'azur, ch. sur sa poitrine d'une croix de l'écu et supp. de sa main dextre un tourteau d'azur.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1572
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Map of France showing where the Buzzard arms are recorded
The Buzzard arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1572.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Charles IX of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles IX of France
1560–1574
Reigning in France when the Buzzard 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Buzzard Family in France
The family name Buzzard traces its roots to the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were documented as early as 1572. During this period, the name likely emerged as a descriptive nickname or a reference to the local landscape, as the term often related to the common bird of prey found throughout the forests of eastern France. Families in this region during the late sixteenth century were frequently involved in agriculture or local trade, living through a time of significant religious and political shifts. As the family grew, individuals began to migrate across borders, carrying the name into new territories and adapting its spelling to fit the languages of their new homes. This movement helped the name transition from a local identifier in Lorraine to a recognized surname across a wider geographic area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Buteo
A Latin term for a type of bird of prey or hawk.
This name
BuzzardAn occupational or descriptive name for a person resembling a hawk or a falconer.
also spelled
Bauzart
Bozard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Bastien, Michel, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1998
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département, 1853
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
