A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girardin family of France.
Reg. 5708 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 coeur enflammé de gu., ch. d'une croix d'arg.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Girardin Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Girardin arms are recorded
The Girardin arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Girardin 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Girardin Family in France
The Girardin family name has deep roots in the French language, originating as a diminutive form of the name Girard, which itself stems from the Germanic elements meaning spear and brave. By the mid-seventeenth century, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Languedoc region of southern France. During this era, families in Languedoc were often deeply connected to the local agricultural economy and the complex social structures of the provincial towns. Life in the region during the 1660s was shaped by the influence of the French monarchy as it sought to centralize power across its diverse territories. The presence of the Girardin name in these records suggests that the family was part of the settled population that navigated the religious and political shifts defining seventeenth-century France. Over time, the name spread from these southern origins as family members moved to pursue new opportunities in trade, administration, and craft.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GirardinA diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone named Gerard.
also spelled
Girardyn
Gyrardin
Jirardin
Girardine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, 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.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
cross symbolChristian faith and service
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
