A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the du Bé family of France.
Reg. 6312 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ermineDignity and rank
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
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 trois écussons d'arg., ch. chacun de trois mouch. d'herm. de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the du Bé Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the du Bé arms are recorded
The du Bé arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 du Bé 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the du Bé Family in France
The family name du Bé finds its historical roots in the rugged and culturally distinct region of Brittany, known in French as Bretagne. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established within the local social fabric of the province. During this period, Brittany functioned as a semi-autonomous duchy with its own unique traditions and legal customs, which likely influenced the lives of the early du Bé family members. The name itself suggests a connection to a specific geographic location or a local landmark, as was common for families living in rural French provinces during the seventeenth century. These early ancestors were part of a society deeply connected to the land and the maritime culture of the Atlantic coast, navigating the challenges of life under the French monarchy while maintaining the strong regional identity that defined the people of Brittany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beu
Old French term for beautiful or fair.
This name
du BéRefers to a person originating from a place known for its beauty or fair appearance.
also spelled
Dubay
Be
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
Poter, Jean-Loup, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2014
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ermineDignity and rank
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
ermineDignity and rank
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
