A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gillotte family of France.
Reg. 7980 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à une grande losange d'arg., ch. d'une étoile (8) de sa.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gillotte Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gillotte arms are recorded
The Gillotte arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gillotte 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 Gillotte Family in France
The family name Gillotte finds its roots in the historic region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name is a variation of the personal name Gilles, which was a very popular choice in medieval France due to the influence of Saint Giles. During the seventeenth century, families in this coastal region often lived in small rural parishes where they worked as farmers or artisans. Life in Bretagne during this period was defined by a strong connection to the land and the local Catholic Church, which served as the primary keeper of records for births, marriages, and deaths. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local villages, contributing to the agricultural and maritime traditions that defined the Breton identity throughout the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gilles
Derived from the Greek name Aegidius meaning young goat or shield bearer.
This name
GillotteA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of someone named Gilles.
also spelled
Gillotte
Gillod
Gillott
Jilo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, Bretagne est une île, 2005
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
