A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Justinian family of France.
Reg. 6078 · French, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“De gu. à l'aigle ép. d'or, chaque tête cour. du même; l'aigle ch. d'un écusson d'azur, ch. d'une fasce d'or et bordé du même. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1º la toque du doge de Venise; 2º l'aigle ép. (sans écusson); 3º un ange iss., hab. d'arg., la tête entourée d'une auréole d'or, tenant de sa main dextre une bague et de sa sen. une fleur-de-lis héraldique d'arg., tigée et feuillée de sin. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Justinian arms are recorded
The Justinian 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 Justinian 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 Justinian Family in France
The name Justinian is deeply rooted in the Latin language, originating from the word *Justinianus*, which means belonging to Justus or derived from the concept of justice. While the name gained its greatest fame from the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, its presence in the French region of Bretagne by 1725 suggests a long history of migration and cultural integration. Families bearing this name in western France often lived in rural or coastal communities where they were recorded in local parish registers during the early eighteenth century. These early records show that the family was part of the common population, likely working in agriculture or trade within the distinct cultural landscape of Brittany. Over time, the name transitioned from a formal title of imperial authority to a hereditary surname used by families to identify their lineage across generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Iustus
Latin word meaning just, upright, or righteous.
This name
JustinianDerived from the Roman cognomen meaning belonging to or related to Justus.
also spelled
Gyustinian
Giustinyan
Joostinian
Justinian
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
