A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geralds family of France.
Reg. 0099 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'herm. au saut. de gu. C.: un sanglier pass. d'herm. fretté de gu. S.: deux griffons sans ailes d'arg., coll. et enchainés d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Geralds Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Geralds arms are recorded
The Geralds arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Geralds 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 Geralds Family in France
The family name Geralds finds its roots in the Germanic tradition, originating from the personal name Gerald, which combines the elements for spear and rule. By the year 1725, members of the family were firmly established in the region of Bretagne, France. During this period, families in this area often lived in close-knit rural communities where surnames were used to distinguish between different households in the same village. Because Bretagne was a distinct province with its own cultural traditions and language, the name likely adapted to local phonetic patterns as it was passed down through generations. The presence of the family in this region suggests they were part of the local social fabric during a time of significant agricultural and regional development in western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerwald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and rule or power.
This name
GeraldsA surname indicating a descendant of one who rules with a spear.
also spelled
Geralds
Fitzgerold
Fizgerald
Fitzgerard
Fitzgarrett
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
