A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guillon family of France.
Reg. 4381 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 la bande de gu.; à la bord. du même.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Guillon Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Guillon arms are recorded
The Guillon arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Guillon 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Guillon Family in France
The surname Guillon finds its roots in the historic region of Bourgogne, France, where the family established a documented presence by the year 1663. The name itself is a diminutive form of the name Guy, which was a popular choice in medieval France derived from the Germanic word for wood or forest. Families bearing this name were often part of the local agricultural or artisan communities that defined the social landscape of the Burgundian countryside during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the local parish life, with records from this era frequently appearing in regional church registers. These early generations lived through a time of significant transition in France, witnessing the consolidation of royal power while maintaining their traditional ties to the land and local trade networks in the heart of the kingdom.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Guillaume
Derived from Germanic elements meaning resolute protector or determined guardian.
This name
GuillonA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of someone named William.
also spelled
Guilon
Guillan
Geeyon
Gillon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, 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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
