A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guillemet family of France.
Reg. 4229 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
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)
“De gu. au saut. d'arg.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Guillemet Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Guillemet arms are recorded
The Guillemet arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Guillemet 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Guillemet Family in France
The surname Guillemet originates from the historical region of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name Guillaume, the French version of William. By adding the suffix et, the name functioned as a diminutive, essentially meaning little William or son of William. Records confirm that members of the Guillemet family were well-established in Brittany by 1663, living as part of the local community during the reign of King Louis XIV. During this period, the family likely worked in agriculture or maritime trades, which were the primary ways of life for families in the coastal villages of the Breton peninsula. As the name spread through the region, it became a fixed identifier for families who maintained deep roots in the local parishes for many generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from Germanic elements meaning resolute protector or helmet of will.
This name
GuillemetA diminutive form indicating a descendant or someone associated with the name William.
also spelled
Gillemet de Brignac
Guillemet de Brignat
Gillemet de Brignat
Geelmay de Brinyak
Guillemet
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
Morvan, Françoise, Les Bretons, 2005
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
