Map of France showing where the Guffey arms are recorded
The Guffey arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Guffey 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Guffey Family in France
The Guffey family name has deep roots that trace back to the region of Ile-de-France during the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this historic area surrounding Paris. During this period, the region was a center of significant social and economic change under the reign of King Louis XIV. Families living in Ile-de-France often worked in agriculture or skilled trades that supported the growing urban population of the capital city. As the family moved and expanded over the following generations, the spelling of the name likely shifted to adapt to the local dialects and languages of the regions where they settled. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people across Europe during the early modern era as families sought new opportunities for land and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaufredus
A Germanic name composed of elements meaning territory and peace.
This name
GuffeyA patronymic derivative of the personal name Geoffrey, signifying son of the peaceful ruler.
also spelled
Gouffee
Goofay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris
Boudon, Françoise, Système de la ville et urbanisme à Paris au XVIIe siècle, 1978
Foisil, Madeleine, Le journal de Jean Héroard: médecin de Louis XIII, 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
