A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gueston family of France.
Reg. 1453 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 une hure de sanglier d'or.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Gueston Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Gueston arms are recorded
The Gueston arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Gueston 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Gueston Family in France
The family name Gueston traces its roots to the historic province of Lyonnais in east-central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established within this region, which served as a major cultural and economic hub centered around the city of Lyon. During the seventeenth century, Lyonnais was a landscape defined by its bustling silk trade and its strategic position along the Rhône and Saône rivers. Families living in this area often found themselves at the crossroads of European commerce, which likely influenced the daily lives and professional paths of the early Gueston ancestors. As residents of a province known for its deep connection to both rural traditions and urban growth, the family existed within a society that valued craftsmanship and regional identity. This early presence in Lyonnais suggests that the family was part of the foundational fabric of the French countryside during a period of significant social and economic development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaste
Derived from the Old French word for wasteland or uncultivated land.
This name
GuestonRefers to a person who lived on or cultivated barren or desolate land.
also spelled
Geston
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Beghain, Patrice, Dictionnaire historique de Lyon, 2009
Pelletier, André, Histoire de Lyon des origines à nos jours, 2007
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
