A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giere family of France.
Reg. 5671 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à un Hercule fendant de ses mains un tronc d'arbre, posé à sen., le tout au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à la fasce, acc. en chef de trois étoiles et en p. de deux épées passées en saut., le tout d'or; au 4 de sa. à la fasce brét. d'arg.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Giere Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Giere arms are recorded
The Giere 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 Giere 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 Giere Family in France
The surname Giere is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Bretagne region of France, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1725. During this period, the name likely emerged as a localized identifier within the rural communities of northwestern France, where families were often linked to specific parishes or agricultural estates. Given the linguistic traditions of the area, the name may have evolved from regional dialects or nicknames used to distinguish individual households in small villages. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Bretagne, participating in the local customs and economic life that defined the province during the eighteenth century. By remaining in this coastal region, the early members of the Giere family helped preserve a distinct lineage that reflects the broader history of French provincial families during the pre-revolutionary era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Giraud
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning spear and rule or power.
This name
GiereA patronymic form indicating descent from a person bearing the name Giraud.
also spelled
Faure
Giere
For de Jyer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B (Fonds de la juridiction de Bretagne)
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
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.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
