A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guyon family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5028 · 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 Guyon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Guyon arms are recorded
The Guyon 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 Guyon 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 Guyon Family in France
The surname Guyon is deeply rooted in the history of France, originating as a diminutive form of the name Guy, which was a popular choice during the Middle Ages. The name gained prominence across various regions, reflecting the social mobility of families who often moved to seek better opportunities in trade or agriculture. By the early eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Guyon family were firmly established in the province of Bretagne. Living in this coastal region, these ancestors likely participated in the local maritime economy or the traditional farming practices that defined Breton life during the reign of King Louis XV. As the family grew, they became part of the local fabric of the community, leaving behind traces in parish registers that document their births, marriages, and daily contributions to the development of the region.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Per pale az. and gu. on the dexter side two lions ramp. or, supporting a tower ar. in base a scymetar, the pommel and hilt towards the sinister betw. two other scymetars, the pommels and hilts towards the dexter ppr. and on the sinister side on a bend of the third betw. three fleurs-de-lis ar. six pellets, all within a bordure also of the third”
SurreySurrey, c. 1620
Where the Guyon Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Guyon arms are recorded
The Guyon arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Guyon arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Surrey.
Origin & History of the Guyon Family in England
The surname Guyon has roots that trace back to the medieval period, emerging as a variation of the name Guy, which originated from the Germanic word for wood or forest. While the name is often associated with French influences following the Norman Conquest, it became firmly established within the English landscape over several centuries. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Guyon family were well-settled in the county of Surrey. During this era, families with this name were often involved in local trade and agriculture, contributing to the growing economic life of southern England. As the family expanded, they integrated into the social fabric of their communities, moving from small rural settlements into the broader administrative and professional life of the English countryside. This transition reflects the common path of many families who helped shape the local history of Surrey during the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic name element meaning wood or wide.
This name
GuyonA diminutive form of Guy, derived from the Germanic name Wido, signifying a guide or leader.
also spelled
Guion
Geeyon
Gion
Guyun
Related arms
Guyanvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, Les Bretons, 2005
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
cross symbolChristian faith and service
sceptreRoyal authority and justice
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
lionCourage, strength and royalty
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
