A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giac family of France.
Reg. 5815 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la bande d'azur, acc. de six merlettes de sa., rangées en orle. C.: une tête humaine, posée de front. D.: DIEU GARDE LE PÉLERIN.”
AuvergneAuvergne, c. 1663
Where the Giac Arms Were Recorded
Auvergne
Map of France showing where the Giac arms are recorded
The Giac arms were recorded in Auvergne, c. 1663.
Auvergne was mountain country in the middle of France, poor in money but thick with old families. Estates were small and held for a very long time, and long tenure counted for more than wealth when it came to arms.
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 Giac 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 Auvergne.
Origin & History of the Giac Family in France
The family name Giac traces its historical roots to the rugged, mountainous region of Auvergne in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in this area, living amidst a landscape defined by ancient volcanic peaks and isolated rural communities. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often deeply connected to the land, frequently working as skilled farmers or craftsmen who relied on the local economy of the Massif Central. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Occitan-speaking populations of the time. Because Auvergne was a crossroads for trade and travel, the early Giac family members were part of a resilient society that maintained strong local traditions and distinct social ties that lasted for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Jacobus
Latin form of the Hebrew name Yaakov meaning supplanter or follower.
This name
GiacA French diminutive or regional variant derived from the name James or Jacob.
also spelled
Giacc
Jak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Puy-de-Dôme, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Boudet, Marcellin, Études historiques sur la province d'Auvergne, 1898
Fournier, Gabriel, Le peuplement rural en Basse-Auvergne durant le haut Moyen Âge, 1962
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
