A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gabber family of France.
Reg. 0771 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. au chev. de sa.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Gabber Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Gabber arms are recorded
The Gabber arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 Gabber 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Gabber Family in France
The family name Gabber has deep roots in the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a busy crossroads of trade and agriculture, which likely influenced the daily lives of the family. The name itself is thought to be linked to the Middle Dutch word "gabberen," which was a colloquial term used to describe someone who spoke quickly or engaged in lively, chatty conversation. It is highly probable that the name began as a descriptive nickname for a talkative or social ancestor before it eventually became a permanent family surname. As the family grew, they remained embedded in the social fabric of the Low Countries, participating in the local customs and economic shifts that defined life in Flanders during the late seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaber
Old High German term for a spear or lance.
This name
GabberOccupational surname referring to a maker or user of spears or lances.
also spelled
Gaber
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 1993
Rijksarchief te Gent (State Archives in Ghent), Parochieregisters van het Bisdom Gent (Parish registers of the Diocese of Ghent), 1663
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