A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ginnis family of France.
Reg. 6185 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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.: aux 1 et 4 éc. en saut. de gu. et d'azur, au lion d'or, br. sur le tout; au chef d'herm., ch. d'une main dextre appaumée de gu., posée en pal, acc. à dextre d'un croiss. du même (Guinness); aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la fasce de sa., ch. d'un trèfle d'or et acc. de trois croiss. de sa. (Lee). C.: 1º un sanglier pass. éc. d'or et de gu., le 1er quartier ch. d'un croiss. de gu. (Guinness); 2º une colonne d'arg., enfilée d'une couronne d'or et sommée d'une aigle de profil au nat., dévorant un membre d'oiseau (Lee). S.: deux cerfs de gu., ramés d'or, coll. chacun d'une jumelle du même, à laquelle est suspendue un écusson, celui à dextre aux armes du 1 et celui à sen. aux armes du 2. D.: SPES MEA IN DEO.”
Francec. 1867
Where the Ginnis Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Ginnis arms are recorded
The Ginnis arms were recorded in France, c. 1867.
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.
Napoleon III
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon III
1852–1870
Reigning in France when the Ginnis 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 Ginnis Family in France
The family name Ginnis carries a distinct history rooted in the coastal regions of northwestern France. By the year 1867, records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the province of Bretagne. This region was known for its strong maritime traditions and unique cultural identity, which likely shaped the lives of early family members. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities or bustling port towns where they worked in agriculture or seafaring trades. The name itself reflects the linguistic evolution of the region, where local dialects often blended with broader French naming conventions. As the family moved through the nineteenth century, they remained part of the social fabric of this rugged peninsula, contributing to the local economy and the distinct heritage of the Breton people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Genovefa
A Germanic name meaning woman of the race or tribe.
This name
GinnisA French locative or patronymic surname derived from the name Genevieve.
also spelled
Guines
Ginnis
Gynness
Gynnes
Guynes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil, 1867
Archives départementales du Finistère, Recensement de la population, 1867
Le Goff, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2012
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
handFaith, sincerity and justice
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
