A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilpin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1169 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un sanglier pass. de sa. C.: un bras arm., tenant un rameau de laurier de sin. D.: DICTIS FACTISQUE SIMPLEX.”
FranceEtats-Unis, c. 1725
Where the Gilpin Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gilpin arms are recorded
The Gilpin arms were recorded in Etats-Unis, 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 Gilpin 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 Gilpin Family in France
The roots of the Gilpin family in France are deeply tied to the rugged landscape of the Brittany region. By the year 1725, records confirm that family members were firmly established within this coastal province. During this era, the name likely functioned as a geographic or occupational identifier, reflecting the family’s integration into the local social fabric of northwestern France. Life in Brittany at this time was defined by strong regional traditions and a reliance on the land and sea. As the family moved through the eighteenth century, they participated in the daily rhythms of village life, contributing to the agricultural and maritime economy that sustained the Breton population. This period serves as a foundational chapter for the family, marking their presence in a region known for its distinct cultural identity and historical resilience.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Or, a boar pass. sa. in chief two roses gu. barbed and seeded ppr”
BedfordHockliffe Grange · Bedford, c. 1620
Where the Gilpin Arms Were Recorded
Bedford
Map of England showing where the Gilpin arms are recorded
The Gilpin arms were recorded in Bedford, c. 1620.
Bedfordshire was small, flat farming country close to London. Its manors were held by middling families rather than great ones, but a manor was a manor, and holding one brought 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Gilpin 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 Bedford.
Origin & History of the Gilpin Family in England
The surname Gilpin has deep roots in Northern England, particularly within the county of Westmorland, where the family established itself as prominent landowners during the Middle Ages. The name is thought to be derived from a diminutive form of the name Gilbert, combined with a suffix that suggests a specific place of origin or a personal nickname. By the early seventeenth century, the family had expanded their reach across the country, as evidenced by records of Gilpin family members living in Bedford by 1620. This migration reflects the broader movement of English families during the Stuart period, as individuals sought new opportunities in growing market towns. Over time, the Gilpin name became associated with various roles in local administration and the church, marking the family as a stable and influential presence in English society long before the colonial era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guilbert
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning bright pledge or bright hostage.
This name
GilpinA diminutive form of the name Gilbert, often signifying a bright or noble promise.
also spelled
Gilpine
Gilpinn
Gilpyn
Gylpin
Gilpyne
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 d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1905
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
