A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guichard family of France.
Reg. 0187 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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'arg. à trois cors-de-chasse de sa., vir. d'or, liés d'azur [Une autre branche, an. le 1 janv. 1610, porte les mêmes armes, augmentées d'une bord. engr. de gu.]”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1607
Where the Guichard Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Guichard arms are recorded
The Guichard arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1607.
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.
Henry IV of France
Sovereign of the period
Henry IV of France
1589–1610
Reigning in France when the Guichard 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 Guichard Family in France
The surname Guichard originates from the ancient Germanic name Wido, which evolved through various linguistic shifts to become a common given name in medieval France. The name is derived from roots meaning wood or wide, and it eventually transitioned into a hereditary surname as families began to adopt fixed names for legal and tax purposes. By the early 17th century, the Guichard family had established a notable presence in the Lorraine region, a territory known for its complex history at the crossroads of French and Germanic cultures. Records from 1607 confirm that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of this area during a time of significant regional transition. As the family grew, they integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the rural and administrative landscapes of northeastern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic element meaning wood or wide.
This name
GuichardDerived from a diminutive form of Guy, signifying a brave or hardy warrior.
also spelled
Guichart
Guichardet
Guichardot
Geeshard
Gwishard
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Série B: Cours et juridictions
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hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
