Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à cinq bes. d'or, 2, 1 et 2; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un croiss. d'arg.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godines family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à cinq bes. d'or, 2, 1 et 2; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un croiss. d'arg.”
The Godines arms were recorded in Picardie, c. 1663.
Picardie lay on the northern road into France and saw armies pass through it repeatedly. Its landowners were soldiers as often as farmers, and a soldier needed a shield he could be recognised by.
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.
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.
The surname Godines finds its historical roots in the northern regions of France, specifically within the province of Picardie. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living during a period when the region served as a vital agricultural and cultural hub. The name likely evolved from ancient Germanic or regional naming traditions that were common in northern France during the Middle Ages. Families in Picardie at this time were often deeply connected to the land and local parish life, which helped preserve their name through generations of rural development. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the history of a province that faced frequent shifts in political and territorial boundaries. Their presence in 17th-century Picardie suggests a long-standing heritage rooted in the traditions and daily life of the French countryside.
A Germanic element meaning god or good.
