A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gonyer family of France.
Reg. 1435 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
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 palmier d'or, accosté de deux cigognes affr. d'arg.; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse du sec.”
FranceParis, c. 1663
Where the Gonyer Arms Were Recorded
Paris
Map of France showing where the Gonyer arms are recorded
The Gonyer arms were recorded in Paris, c. 1663.
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 Gonyer 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 Gonyer Family in France
The family name Gonyer is an anglicized variation of the French surname Gonnier, which traces its roots back to the bustling streets of Paris during the mid-seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established residents of the city, living during a time when Paris was the vibrant cultural and political heart of France. The name itself likely originated as an occupational or descriptive term, as was common for surnames developing in urban centers during that era. As the family grew, some members eventually moved away from the capital to seek new opportunities in other regions and across the Atlantic. This migration helped transform the spelling from the original French form into the version used by many descendants today. The history of the name reflects the broader movement of French citizens who carried their traditions and identities into new lands while maintaining the legacy of their Parisian origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gonnier
Derived from the Old French word for a maker of gloves.
This name
GonyerAn occupational surname for a person who manufactured or sold leather gloves.
also spelled
Gonnier
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Fichier Origine, Fédération des sociétés de généalogie du Québec et de la Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie
Jetté, René, Dictionnaire généalogique des familles du Québec, 1983
Archives nationales de France, Minutier central des notaires de Paris
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
palm treeVictory, and righteousness that flourishes
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
