A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gab family of France.
Reg. 0306 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un lévrier pass. d'arg.; au chef du même, ch. de deux étoiles d'azur. C.: le lévrier, iss.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Gab Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Gab arms are recorded
The Gab arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gab 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Gab Family in France
The family name Gab has roots that trace back to the historical region of Lorraine, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and frequently shifted between the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France. Families living in this area often navigated complex social changes brought on by regional conflicts and shifting borders. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer given name common to the Germanic and French speakers of the borderlands. As the family established their presence in the local community, they became part of the agricultural and artisanal fabric that defined life in the rural villages of Lorraine. Over time, the descendants of these early settlers moved through the region, carrying their name forward as they adapted to the evolving political landscape of Western Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gabriel
God is my strength
This name
GabA French patronymic or locative surname derived from the Hebrew name meaning God is my strength.
also spelled
Gabe
Gab
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine
Bastien, Pierre, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1978
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine au XVIIe siècle, 1984
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
