A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guion family of France.
Reg. 1561 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“un sceptre d'or, posé en bande, br. sur la croix. C.: un buste d'homme. hab. aux armes de l'écu (moins le sceptre), tort. de gu.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Guion Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Guion arms are recorded
The Guion arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Guion 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 France.
Origin & History of the Guion Family in France
The family name Guion has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where members of the family were well-established by the early eighteenth century. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Guy, which evolved through the French language to become a common surname in western provinces. During the early 1700s, families bearing this name were often involved in the agricultural and maritime life of the Breton countryside. Because Brittany maintained a unique cultural identity separate from the rest of France, the Guion family likely navigated a society that blended traditional Celtic customs with French administrative practices. By 1725, records show that the family was integrated into the local community, living through a period of regional stability that allowed them to maintain their presence in the area for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wigo
A Germanic element meaning war, battle, or warrior.
This name
GuionA diminutive form of Guy, derived from the Germanic word for warrior or battle.
also spelled
Guion
Geeyon
Gion
Guyun
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
