A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Godun family of France.
Reg. 0485 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 cygne d'arg., cour. d'or.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Godun Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Godun arms are recorded
The Godun arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Godun 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Godun Family in France
The family name Godun traces its roots to the mountainous Dauphiné region of southeastern France, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a rugged landscape defined by its proximity to the Alps and a complex social structure tied to local land ownership and trade. Families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain ties to their ancestral villages. The name likely evolved from local dialects common to the province, reflecting the specific linguistic patterns of the people living in the valleys near the Isère River. By establishing themselves in Dauphiné during this era, the early members of the Godun family became part of a long history of mountain dwellers who navigated the challenges of a changing French kingdom while preserving their distinct regional identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gode
Derived from the Germanic element god meaning good or god.
This name
GodunA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Gode or Godin.
also spelled
Godun
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques arpents d'Amérique: Population et économie du peuplement, 1996
Chorier, Nicolas, Histoire générale de Dauphiné, 1661 (reprinted editions)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
