A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the de Beer family of France.
Reg. 7914 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 à l'ours pass. de sa., emmuselé et lié de gu. C.: l'ours, iss., entre un vol à l'antique, coupé alt. d'or et de sa.”
Francec. 1655
Where the de Beer Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the de Beer arms are recorded
The de Beer arms were recorded in France, c. 1655.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the de Beer 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 de Beer Family in France
The name de Beer carries a long history that reflects the movement of families across Northern Europe. While the name is often associated with Dutch or Flemish origins, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Brittany region of France by 1655. During this period, the name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname, as the word for bear was used in various Germanic languages to denote someone with great strength or a bold personality. As these individuals moved into French-speaking territories, the name was preserved as a marker of their ancestral heritage. Over time, the family integrated into the local society of Brittany, contributing to the agricultural and social life of the region while maintaining the unique identity tied to their name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
ber
A Germanic term referring to the large wild mammal.
This name
de BeerA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near a bear or hunted them.
also spelled
Deber
Beer
Related arms
Beer (de) - Gandvariant spelling
Beer (de) - P. d'Utrechtvariant spelling
Beer (de) - P. d'Utrecht, Hollvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Ploix, Charles, Étymologie des noms de famille en Bretagne, 1902
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
