A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guthrie family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4378 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or au lion de gu., arm. et lamp. d'azur; à la fasce d'arg., br. sur le tout et ch. d'un tertre de sin. entre deux feuilles de houx du même, les tiges en bas; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois gerbes d'or. C.: une main de carn., en pal, brandissant une épée, et surm. de la Légende: STO PRO VERITATE. T.: à dextre un chevalier, revêtu d'une cotte de mailles, tenant de sa main dextre une hache d'armes et de sa sen. un bouclier triangulaire de gu. ch. de deux léopards d'or, l'un sur l'autre; à sen. un chevalier pareil, portant par dessus sa cotte de mailles une cotte d'armes d'arg., la main dextre posée sur l'écu”
Francec. 1836
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Map of France showing where the Guthrie arms are recorded
The Guthrie arms were recorded in France, c. 1836.
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.
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 Guthrie Family in France
The history of the Guthrie name in France is deeply connected to the movement of people across the English Channel during the nineteenth century. While the name is of Scottish origin, records confirm that members of the family established a presence in the Brittany region by 1836. During this period, Brittany served as a unique cultural crossroads where families from the British Isles often settled to pursue trade or agricultural interests. These early settlers integrated into the local French society while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity. Their arrival in the region reflects a broader pattern of migration that saw families adapting to new linguistic and social environments while preserving their family heritage. By settling in this coastal area, the Guthrie family became part of the long history of interaction between the people of France and their northern neighbors.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, a lion ramp. reguard. gu.; 2nd and 3rd, az. three garbs or, all within a bordure indented ar”
ForfarProvost · Forfar, c. 1672
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Map of Scotland showing where the Guthrie arms are recorded
The Guthrie arms were recorded in Forfar, c. 1672.
Forfar, now called Angus, was farming country on Scotland's east coast between the hills and the sea. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is exactly what fills a register of arms.
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 Scotland in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in France when the Guthrie arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Forfar.
Origin & History of the Guthrie Family in Scotland
The Guthrie family name originates from the lands of Guthrie in the county of Angus, Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic words for a windy place, which reflects the geography of the coastal region where the family first established their roots. By the thirteenth century, the Guthries were recognized as a prominent local family with strong ties to the Scottish Crown. Their influence grew over the following centuries as they served as churchmen, landowners, and administrators in the area surrounding Forfar. By the time official records confirm their presence in Forfar in 1672, the family had already been a fixture of the local community for generations. This long history shows how the family evolved from local landholders into a well-established part of the Scottish social structure during the Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Guthrie Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Guth
Old Norse term meaning good or god.
This name
GuthrieDerived from a Scottish place name meaning windy spot or gusty place.
also spelled
Guthry
Guthree
Guthrey
Related arms
Cochranesimilar arms
Farquharsonsimilar arms
Haysimilar arms
Lesliesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil et recensements de population
Le Gall, Erwan, Une histoire de la Bretagne, 2017
Minois, Georges, Nouvelle histoire de la Bretagne, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
hollyTruth, and protection through winter
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
bordureA difference between branches of one family
