A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guéguen family of France.
Reg. 5260 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un arbre de sin.; et un sanglier de sa., br. sur le fût.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Guéguen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Guéguen arms are recorded
The Guéguen arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 Guéguen 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 Guéguen Family in France
The surname Guéguen is deeply rooted in the history of Brittany, a region in northwestern France known for its distinct Celtic heritage. The name is derived from the Breton word "gueguen," which translates to "blessed" or "holy." This suggests that the earliest ancestors who carried the name were likely associated with religious life or were held in high regard by their local communities. By the year 1663, records confirm that the family was well-established within the region, living as part of the traditional Breton social structure. During this era, families in Brittany often lived in close-knit rural parishes where they worked the land and maintained strong ties to their local language and customs. Because the name is distinctly Breton, it reflects the unique cultural identity of the people who lived in this coastal area long before it was fully integrated into the French kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gueg
A Breton term meaning wind or a gust of air.
This name
GuéguenA diminutive form referring to a person who is lively or spirited.
also spelled
Gueguenn
Gegen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, Series E
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
