A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gui family of France.
Reg. 5417 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec. en saut.: au 1 d'azur à une coquille d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. plein; au 4 d'azur à trois tonneaux d'arg.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1540
Where the Gui Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Gui arms are recorded
The Gui arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1540.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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.
Francis I of France
Sovereign of the period
Francis I of France
1515–1547
Reigning in France when the Gui 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Gui Family in France
The family name Gui has deep roots in the Lorraine region of eastern France, where members of the family were officially recorded as early as 1540. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Wido, which eventually evolved into the French form Guy or Gui. During the sixteenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often served in local administration or agriculture, helping to shape the social fabric of the Duchy of Lorraine. Because the region was frequently affected by shifting borders and regional conflicts, the Gui family likely developed a strong sense of local identity while adapting to the changing political landscape of the era. By establishing themselves in this specific territory during the mid-1500s, the early members of the Gui family became part of the long and complex history of the Lorraine people.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic root meaning wood or wide.
This name
GuiDerived from the Germanic name Wido, signifying a guide or leader.
also spelled
Guiett
Gui
Guiette
Geeay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bouteiller, Ernest de. Dictionnaire topographique de l'ancien département de la Moselle. 1868
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
