A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girardeau family of France.
Reg. 6493 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au chev. d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au lion de sa. Sur le tout d'or plein.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Girardeau Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Girardeau arms are recorded
The Girardeau arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Girardeau 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Girardeau Family in France
The Girardeau family name has deep roots in the historical region of Bourgogne, France, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1663. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Gerhard, which combines the words for spear and strength. Over many centuries, the spelling evolved as the family moved through different French provinces, eventually settling into the form we recognize today. During the seventeenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade, and the name Girardeau became a common identifier for these community members. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Burgundian countryside, living through a period of significant political and cultural change in France. Their presence in official records from the 1660s suggests they were active participants in the local parish life and the rural economy of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GirardeauA diminutive form indicating a descendant of one who is brave with a spear.
also spelled
Girardod
Gyrardot
Jirardo
Girardeau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Bourgogne, 1663
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
