Girard Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Girard surname: its meaning, its roots in France, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Girard coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Girard name
Girard comes from a Germanic personal name joining gari or ger, "spear", and hard, "hard, brave". The French form Girard was common in the Middle Ages and became a widespread surname, especially in the centre and east of France. It also spread to Switzerland and French Canada.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Girard name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Girard name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Canada, Switzerland and Belgium; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Girard family history
The researched Girard pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Girard coat of arms.
Girard name FAQ
What does the Girard name mean?
Brave with the spear. Common variants include Gérard, Girardin, Giraud.
Where does the Girard surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Canada, Switzerland and Belgium.
Is there a Girard coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Girard crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Girard coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat & Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).