A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Genève family of France.
Reg. 2426 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti; au 2 de gu. à une clé d'arg., posée en pal.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Genève Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Genève arms are recorded
The Genève arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Genève 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Genève Family in France
The family name Genève traces its roots to the historical movement of people across the French regions surrounding the Rhône River. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the Lyonnais region, which served as a major cultural and economic hub during the seventeenth century. The name itself likely originated as a topographical identifier, used to distinguish individuals or families who had migrated from the city of Geneva or the surrounding Savoyard territories into the kingdom of France. During this period, surnames were often adopted based on a person's place of origin to help local officials and neighbors identify newcomers in a growing society. As these families settled in Lyonnais, they integrated into the local community, contributing to the agricultural and artisanal life that defined the area during the reign of Louis XIV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Genava
A Celtic term referring to a river mouth or a ford.
This name
GenèveA locative surname derived from the city of Geneva, indicating origin from that location.
also spelled
Geneve
de Jenev
de Genev
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Baudrier, Henri, Bibliographie lyonnaise: recherches sur les imprimeurs, libraires, relieurs et fondeurs de lettres de Lyon au XVIe siècle, 1895
Archives départementales du Rhône, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Le Mée, René, Démographie et sociétés dans le Lyonnais au XVIIe siècle, 1980
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
keyGuardianship, and the office of a steward
