A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guillin family of France.
Reg. 1407 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
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. à quatre flèches d'arg., croisées et posées en giron.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Guillin Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Guillin arms are recorded
The Guillin arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Guillin 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Guillin Family in France
The family name Guillin has deep roots in the historical province of Lyonnais, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During this period, the region was a bustling hub of trade and craftsmanship, heavily influenced by its proximity to the city of Lyon. Families like the Guillins often lived in rural parishes or small villages surrounding the city, where they were likely involved in agriculture or the local textile industry. The name itself is thought to be a variation of names derived from the Germanic root "willa," which translates to desire or protection. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the French countryside, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the major political shifts of the eighteenth century. Their presence in the records of the seventeenth century highlights a long-standing connection to the land and the distinct cultural heritage of the Rhône-Alpes region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from the Germanic elements for will and helmet or protector.
This name
GuillinA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of someone named William.
also spelled
Guillindumontay
Geeyan du Montay
Guillin
Dumontet
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Garnier, Georges, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille de France, 1995
L'Hôpital, Jean, Histoire de Lyon et du Lyonnais, 1970
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arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
