Map of France showing where the Monteau arms are recorded
The Monteau arms were recorded in Bearn, c. 1663.
Bearn was Pyrenean country with its own laws and a strong class of small independent landholders. A great many families counted as gentry there, and each needed a shield 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 Monteau 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 Bearn.
Origin & History of the Monteau Family in France
The family name Monteau traces its historical roots to the rugged landscape of Béarn, a former province nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France. Records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this region by 1663, living within a society defined by a unique blend of Basque and Gascon cultural influences. The name itself likely originated as a topographic descriptor, derived from the Old French word "mont," which refers to a hill or mountain. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely people who lived on or near a prominent elevated landmark. During the seventeenth century, families in Béarn often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they maintained strong ties to the land and local traditions. As the family grew, their presence in this mountainous territory helped shape their identity as people deeply connected to the geography and history of the Pyrenean frontier.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mont
Derived from the Latin mons meaning a mountain or hill.
This name
MonteauRefers to someone who lived on or near a prominent hill or mountain.
also spelled
Monteaux
Monteault
Montoh
Related arms
Abbainosimilar arms
Bonet de la Chapouliesimilar arms
Bonnetsimilar arms
Bougerelsimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tucoo-Chala, Pierre. Petite histoire du Béarn. 1997
Archives départementales des Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Série E: Familles, seigneuries et terres
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
