A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gideon family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8620 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“de sin. à une rose d'or, accostée de deux fleurs-de-lis d'arg.; au 2 d'or au lion ramp. et reg. d'azur C.: une tête et col de cerf d'arg., ramée de gu., coll. d'une couronne de palissades d'or et tenant entre ses dents une branche de chêne de sin., engiantée d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Gideon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gideon arms are recorded
The Gideon 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 Gideon 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 Gideon Family in France
The family name Gideon has deep roots in the historical landscape of France, particularly within the northwestern region of Bretagne. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living among the rugged coastal communities and inland rural parishes. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social structures of the Ancien Régime, where families were often defined by their local parish records and their specific trades within the community. Life in eighteenth-century Bretagne was shaped by a unique blend of Celtic heritage and French royal administration, and the Gideon family likely navigated these influences through agriculture or local craftsmanship. As the family grew, they became part of the enduring social fabric of the region, leaving behind a legacy that reflects the quiet persistence of provincial life before the major political upheavals of the late eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per chev. vert and or, in chief a rose of the second betw. two fleurs-de-lis ar. in base a lion ramp. reguard. az”
LincolnSpalding · Lincoln, c. 1824
Where the Gideon Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Gideon arms are recorded
The Gideon arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1824.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
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 England in this period.
George IV of the United Kingdom
Sovereign of the period
George IV of the United Kingdom
1820–1830
Reigning in France when the Gideon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Gideon Family in England
The name Gideon is rooted in ancient Hebrew, meaning one who fells or cuts down, and it eventually became a popular given name in England following the Protestant Reformation. By the early 19th century, the name had transitioned from a personal identifier into a hereditary surname for families living across the British Isles. Records confirm that members of the Gideon family were established in the city of Lincoln by 1824, a time when the region was undergoing significant industrial and social shifts. During this period, families in Lincoln often worked in the local trade, agriculture, or the burgeoning railway sectors that connected the city to the rest of the country. As the family settled into the local community, they became part of the long history of Lincoln, a city known for its deep ties to medieval commerce and its role as a regional hub for the East Midlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gid'on
Hebrew verb meaning to fell, hew, or cut down.
This name
GideonA mighty warrior or one who cuts down his enemies in battle.
also spelled
Gideonn
Gideoun
Related arms
Gedeonvariant spelling
Ashtonrecorded with Gideon, same area
Evingtonrecorded with Gideon, same area
Gamlynrecorded with Gideon, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Séries E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Delumeau, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1969
Le Goff, Jacques, La Bretagne au XVIIIe siècle, 1980
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
