A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geray family of France.
Reg. 5371 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
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. d'or, acc. de cinq croiss. d'arg., deux en chef versés ch. chacun d'une merlette du sec., et trois mal-ordonnés en p.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Geray Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Geray arms are recorded
The Geray arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Geray 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Geray Family in France
The family name Geray traces its roots to the historic region of Normandy in northern France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this area, living during a time when Normandy was a vital center for agriculture and maritime trade. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions common to the French countryside, reflecting the way families were identified by their neighbors or their specific place of residence. As the seventeenth century progressed, the Geray family lived through a period of significant social change in France, which often encouraged families to document their births, marriages, and land holdings in local parish registers. These early ancestors were part of the fabric of Norman society, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GerayA French patronymic surname originating from the Germanic personal name meaning brave spearman.
also spelled
Gueret
Gueray
Geray
Gere
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
