A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giry family of France.
Reg. 3740 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Bandé d'or et de gu., acc. en chef d'un lambel d'azur, br. sur le bandé.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Giry Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Giry arms are recorded
The Giry arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Giry 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Giry Family in France
The family name Giry finds its roots in the historical region of Brittany, where members of the lineage were firmly established by the year 1663. The name itself is considered a variant of the ancient Germanic name Giraud, which eventually evolved into various regional forms across France. During the seventeenth century, families in Brittany often lived in close-knit rural communities where surnames were passed down through generations to identify specific households. Because the region maintained a distinct cultural identity, the Giry family likely participated in the local agricultural or maritime traditions that defined life in western France at that time. As the family grew, they became part of the broader social fabric of the province, contributing to the local history of their parishes through their presence in church records and land documentation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning spear and brave or hardy.
This name
GiryA patronymic surname originating from a medieval diminutive form of the Germanic name Gerhard.
also spelled
Girie
Gyry
Zheeree
Giree
Related arms
Giriévariant spelling
Gyryvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. 1951
Morvan, Françoise. Les Bretons. 2005
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
labelThe eldest son, during his father's life
