A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gentil family of France.
Reg. 9911 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swordJustice, and military honour
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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., acc. de trois roues de Ste.-Catherine, le tout d'or, et une épée d'arg., en pal, br. sur le tout.”
OrleanaisOrleanais, c. 1663
Where the Gentil Arms Were Recorded
Orleanais
Map of France showing where the Gentil arms are recorded
The Gentil arms were recorded in Orleanais, c. 1663.
Orleanais lay on the Loire around Orleans, close enough to Paris for court money to reach it. Officials and lawyers who did well bought estates there, and an estate brought a coat of arms with it.
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 Gentil 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 Orleanais.
Origin & History of the Gentil Family in France
The surname Gentil originates from the Old French word meaning noble, kind, or well-born. During the medieval period, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for individuals who displayed refined manners or belonged to the lower ranks of the landed gentry. By the mid-seventeenth century, records confirm that members of the Gentil family were well-established in the Orleanais region of France. This area, centered around the historic city of Orléans, served as a vital agricultural and cultural hub along the Loire River. Families living in this province during the 1660s were often involved in local administration, trade, or the management of rural estates. As the family grew, they became deeply rooted in the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local history of the Orleanais long before the major political shifts of the following century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gentilis
Latin term meaning belonging to a clan, family, or nation.
This name
GentilRefers to a person who is noble, well-born, courteous, or kind in nature.
also spelled
Gentil-de
Gentil-von
Gentile
Jenteel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales du Loiret. Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de l'Orléanais. 1663
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
swordJustice, and military honour
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
swordJustice, and military honour
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
