A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Byland family of France.
Reg. 1798 · French, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à la croix de sa.; au 2 d'or à six burèles de gu.; au 3 d'herm. à un écusson de gu., ch. d'une bande d'or et acc. de trois oiseaux cont. de sa., rangés en chef au-dessus de l'écusson; au 4 parti-émanché de quatre pièces et demie de gu. et d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un coq d'arg., crêté et barbé de gu., coll. d'une couronne d'or, la patte dextre levée et passée dans une couronne pareille. S.: deux griffons d'arg., arm. et lamp. de gu.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Byland arms are recorded
The Byland arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Byland 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 Byland Family in France
The name Byland is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Brittany region, known as Bretagne in French. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this coastal area of northwestern France. The name likely evolved from local geographic markers or descriptive terms used to identify families living near specific landmarks or settlements. During the early eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trades, which defined their social standing and daily lives. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of Breton society, contributing to the unique cultural and linguistic traditions that have long characterized this distinct part of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bail
Old French term for a steward or administrator of an estate.
This name
BylandRefers to a person who lived near or worked on a specific plot of land.
also spelled
Byland
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
