A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guinand family of Switzerland.
Reg. 6532 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 un scorpion de sa., posé en pal.”
SwitzerlandNeufchâtel, c. 1745
Where the Guinand Arms Were Recorded
Neufchâtel
Map of Switzerland showing where the Guinand arms are recorded
The Guinand arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Guinand Family in Switzerland
The Guinand family name has deep roots in the Neuchâtel region of Switzerland, where members of the family were firmly established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Germanic name Winand, which evolved through local dialects as it moved into French-speaking areas. By 1745, records show that the Guinands were active participants in the social and economic life of the Neuchâtel mountains. This region was famous at the time for its growing watchmaking industry, and many families with names like Guinand were instrumental in transforming the area into a global center for precision craftsmanship. Over time, the family became well-integrated into the local community, contributing to the unique cultural identity of the Jura mountains while maintaining their distinct ancestral name through generations of skilled workers and local citizens.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wino
Germanic root meaning friend or protector.
This name
GuinandDerived from a diminutive form of names containing the element friend or warrior.
also spelled
Guynand
Guinant
Geenon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives de l'État de Neuchâtel, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Archives de la Ville de Neuchâtel, Registres des habitants et bourgeois
Bovay, Georges, Histoire de Neuchâtel, 1987
Henry, Philippe, Histoire d'une famille, histoire d'une industrie: Les Guinand, 1994
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crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
