A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gentilhomme family of France.
Reg. 6773 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
helmetWisdom and security in defence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., ch. de trois bes. du champ et acc. en p. d'un casque d'azur.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gentilhomme Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gentilhomme arms are recorded
The Gentilhomme arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 Gentilhomme 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 France.
Origin & History of the Gentilhomme Family in France
The name Gentilhomme carries a historical meaning that reflects the social structure of medieval France. The term translates literally to "gentle man," which was a title used to describe a person of noble birth or refined character. By the time the family was firmly established in the Brittany region in 1663, the name served as a marker of social standing and local influence. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the provincial administration or the landed gentry, playing active roles in the rural life of the Breton countryside. Because Brittany maintained a unique cultural identity and legal system during this period, the Gentilhomme family likely navigated a society that valued both their ancestral reputation and their contributions to the local parish communities. Their presence in the region during the mid-seventeenth century suggests they were well-settled members of the provincial population who held a respected place in the social hierarchy of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gentilis homo
Latin for a person of noble birth or belonging to a clan.
This name
GentilhommeRefers to a nobleman or a member of the gentry class.
also spelled
Gentilhomme-de
Gentilhomme-von
Gentilhommee
Jenteelom
Related arms
de Banesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bloch, Marc, La société féodale, 1939
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Le Goff, Jacques, La civilisation de l'Occident médiéval, 1964
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
helmetWisdom and security in defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
helmetWisdom and security in defence
