A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ginkel family of France.
Reg. 6667 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
Colours
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'arg. au chev. de sa., ace. de trois têtes de loup du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Ginkel Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Ginkel arms are recorded
The Ginkel 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 Ginkel 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 Ginkel Family in France
The family name Ginkel carries a rich history that likely traces its roots to the Germanic regions of Europe before spreading across the continent. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in the Bretagne region of France by 1725. During this era, families often moved due to shifting borders, trade opportunities, or religious movements that encouraged migration across Western Europe. The name itself is thought to be topographic or locational in origin, perhaps referring to a specific settlement or a geographic feature near a family’s ancestral home. As these early ancestors settled into the coastal landscapes of Bretagne, they became part of the local social fabric, adapting to the unique culture and language of the region while maintaining their distinct family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gink
A Germanic term referring to a small, narrow, or thin person.
This name
GinkelDerived from a nickname for a slender individual or a topographic reference.
also spelled
Ginkel
Ginkel-Danvers
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
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
wolfReward from long service and hard work
