A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hainaut family of France.
Reg. 2192 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or au lion de sa., arm. et lamp. de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un chapeau pyramidal fascé contre-fascé de gu. et d'arg., sommé de plumes de coq de sa. Cri: HAYNAULT AU NOBLE COMTE!”
FranceAnciens, c. 1725
Where the Hainaut Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Hainaut arms are recorded
The Hainaut arms were recorded in Anciens, 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 Hainaut 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 Hainaut Family in France
The surname Hainaut originates from the historical County of Hainaut, a region that straddles the modern border between France and Belgium. People who carried this name were often identified by their connection to this specific territory, which served as a major crossroads for trade and political power in medieval Europe. By the early eighteenth century, members of the family had moved westward and established a presence in the province of Bretagne. Records from 1725 confirm that the family had integrated into the local society of this coastal region, likely seeking new opportunities in agriculture or regional commerce. This migration reflects the broader movement of families across France during the pre-industrial era as they looked to settle in new provinces while maintaining a link to their ancestral geographic origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hain
A Germanic personal name derived from the element meaning home or enclosure.
This name
HainautRefers to a person originating from the historical county of Hainaut in the Low Countries.
also spelled
Hainault
Haino
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Bretagne
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
