Allusion To The Arms

Source

From Legends of Le Détroit:

"The commander [LaSalle] had decided to name her [his ship] the 'Griffin,' in allusion to the arms of the Comte de Frontenac, whose supporters were 'Griffins.'  

 
The website of the Great Lakes Exploration Group has an article entitled, 331 Years Later, Has the Griffon Been Found?  Maybe not.