A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giga family of France.
Reg. 2715 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'arg. à la fasse d'azur, acc. de trois los. de gu.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Giga Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Giga arms are recorded
The Giga arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Giga 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Giga Family in France
The family name Giga possesses deep roots in the historical region of Lyonnais, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area of France served as a vital crossroads for trade and agriculture, placing the family at the heart of a vibrant provincial society. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the Rhône-Alpes region, reflecting the specific dialects spoken by rural populations at the time. Families in this era were often tied closely to the land and the local parish, meaning the Giga name was likely recorded in church registers that tracked baptisms, marriages, and burials. By maintaining a presence in Lyonnais, the early Giga family became part of the enduring social fabric of the region, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Giganteus
Latin term meaning giant, enormous, or of great size.
This name
GigaA nickname likely referring to a person of exceptionally large physical stature.
also spelled
Gigass
Gigasch
Giga
Jigas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil
Béghain, Patrice, Dictionnaire historique de Lyon, 2009
Fournier, Gabriel, La vie rurale dans la France médiévale et moderne, 1976
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
