A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girault family of France.
Reg. 7489 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
helmetWisdom and security in defence
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un casque grillé d'arg., panaché de trois plumes du même, taré de profil; à la bord. d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Girault Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Girault arms are recorded
The Girault 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 Girault 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 Girault Family in France
The surname Girault is a classic example of a French patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name of a male ancestor. The name itself comes from the Germanic roots "geri," meaning spear, and "wald," meaning rule or power. By the time the family was firmly established in the Bretagne region of France in 1725, the name had been in use for several centuries across various provinces. Families bearing this name were often part of the rural working class, frequently involved in agriculture or local trades that sustained the village economy. Because the name was tied to a common personal name, it spread naturally as families moved through the French countryside to seek new opportunities or land. The presence of the Girault family in Bretagne during the early eighteenth century reflects a period when many families were firmly rooted in their local parishes, leaving behind records of births, marriages, and deaths that help us trace their long history in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerwald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and rule or power.
This name
GiraultA French diminutive form signifying one who rules with a spear.
also spelled
Giraut
Gyrault
Jiro
Giraud
Related arms
Girautvariant spelling
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
helmetWisdom and security in defence
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
helmetWisdom and security in defence
feathersWilling obedience and serenity
