A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaigneur family of France.
Reg. 7408 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion d'or, arm., lamp. et cour. de gu.; à une croix nillée de gu., br. sur le tout.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Gaigneur Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Gaigneur arms are recorded
The Gaigneur arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Gaigneur 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Gaigneur Family in France
The surname Gaigneur originates from the French word *gagner*, which historically referred to a person who worked the land or a farmer. This occupational name suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely laborers or cultivators who lived in rural communities in France. By 1663, members of the Gaigneur family were documented in the Maine region of North America. These early settlers arrived during a period of intense French exploration and colonization in the New World. Life for these pioneers was defined by the difficult task of clearing dense forests and establishing agriculture in a rugged landscape. Their presence in Maine highlights the transition of the family from traditional European farming roots to the challenging frontier life of the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gagner
To gain, earn, or cultivate land.
This name
GaigneurAn occupational surname for a farmer, laborer, or someone who earns their living.
also spelled
Leganyer
Gaigneur
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Archives nationales du Québec, Registres de l'état civil, 1621–1799
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
