A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Griman family of France.
Reg. 3943 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à deux fasces d'arg., acc. de sept coquilles du même, 3, 3 et 1.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Griman Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Griman arms are recorded
The Griman 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 Griman 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 Griman Family in France
The family name Griman traces its roots to the rugged and historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this coastal province, a time when the area was known for its distinct Celtic heritage and strong maritime traditions. The name likely evolved from ancient Germanic or Latin roots, reflecting a period when names were often chosen to describe a person’s character or their role within a local community. Life for the Griman family in seventeenth-century Bretagne would have centered around the rhythms of the land and the sea, as the region was deeply shaped by its isolation from the rest of the French kingdom. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Breton countryside, contributing to the unique cultural identity that defines this historic corner of France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grim
Derived from the Old Germanic word for mask, helmet, or fierce.
This name
GrimanA habitational or descriptive name denoting a person with a fierce or masked appearance.
also spelled
Grimant
Grymande
Griman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Fonds de l'intendance de Bretagne
Gautier, Hervé, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1993
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
