A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guiffre family of France.
Reg. 1669 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'or à la bande de gu., ch. d'un griffon d'arg. D.: HUC QUID OBSTAT.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Guiffre Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Guiffre arms are recorded
The Guiffre arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Guiffre 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Guiffre Family in France
The surname Guiffre finds its historical roots in the southeastern region of France known as the Dauphiné. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this mountainous area near the Alps. The name itself is believed to be a regional variation of names derived from the Germanic name Geoffrey, which means traveler or peaceful ruler. Families living in the Dauphiné during the seventeenth century often worked as farmers or artisans in small mountain villages. Because the region was a crossroads for trade and migration between France and Italy, the family likely lived through periods of significant social change and local development. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their identity within these rural communities, linking them to the distinct culture and history of the French Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godefrid
Derived from Germanic elements meaning god and peace.
This name
GuiffreA French patronymic surname originating from a diminutive form of Geoffrey, signifying peace of God.
also spelled
Guiffre
Guiffreyy
Guiffrai
Geefray
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la province du Dauphiné, 1663
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
