A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gastineau family of France.
Reg. 5351 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois cygnes du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gastineau Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gastineau arms are recorded
The Gastineau 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 Gastineau 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 Gastineau Family in France
The Gastineau family name has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1663. The name is believed to be locative in origin, likely derived from a specific place or estate known as Gastineau, which was common for families living in rural areas during the seventeenth century. In the social structure of the time, families in this region were often tied to the land and local parish life, which helped preserve their name through generations of agricultural and community work. As the family grew, they became part of the local history of the province, contributing to the distinct cultural identity of the Breton people. By maintaining their presence in the region throughout the late 1600s, the Gastineau family established a lasting connection to their ancestral home that persisted long after the initial records were written.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gast
A Germanic term referring to a guest or a stranger.
This name
GastineauDerived from a nickname for a newcomer or a visitor to a region.
also spelled
Gastino
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, 1663
Poterie, Henri, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1972
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
