A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gus family of France.
Reg. 2564 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 de sa. à la croix ancrée d'or, cant. de quatre croiss. du même, 2 en chef montants et 2 en p. versés (de Gheus); au 2 de gu. à une tête et col de licorne coupée d'arg, acc. de huit bill. du même, rangées en orle (Wavrans). Cq. cour. C.: la croix, entre un vol de sa. L. d'or et de sa. T.: deux sauvages, tenant chacun une bannière, celle à dextre aux armes de de Gheus, et celle à sen. aux armes de Wavrans.”
Francec. 1710
Where the Gus Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gus arms are recorded
The Gus arms were recorded in France, c. 1710.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gus 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 Gus Family in France
The family name Gus traces its early documented roots to the rugged landscape of Bretagne in the early eighteenth century. By 1710, records indicate that members of the family were firmly established within this region of northwestern France, a place defined by its distinct Celtic heritage and maritime traditions. During this era, families in Bretagne often lived in close-knit rural communities where surnames were tied to specific parishes and local landholdings. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common to the Breton language or local dialects of the time. As the family navigated the social and economic shifts of the early 1700s, they contributed to the unique cultural tapestry of the province, maintaining a presence in the area as the region transitioned through the final years of the Ancien Régime.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Augustus
Derived from the Latin word meaning venerable, majestic, or noble.
This name
GusA shortened form of names like Gustave or Auguste, signifying greatness and dignity.
also spelled
Gheus Ypres
Gheus de Ypres
Gus
Geus
Gheus-Ypres
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gallou, Jean-Yves, Les noms de famille en Bretagne, 1998
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
cross symbolChristian faith and service
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
