A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gabe family of France.
Reg. 6214 · 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 Gabe Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Gabe arms are recorded
The Gabe 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 Gabe 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 Gabe Family in France
The family name Gabe traces its roots back to the historic region of Lorraine, where members of the family were officially recorded as residents by 1663. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French and German spheres of influence. The name likely evolved as a short form or a variation of longer Germanic or French given names common in the seventeenth century. Families in this area often lived in rural villages where they worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the local economy of the duchy. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the borderlands, navigating the complex shifts in regional governance and the daily challenges of life in a territory frequently impacted by territorial conflicts. This early presence in Lorraine suggests that the family was well-established within the local community long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gabriel
God is my strength
This name
GabeA French diminutive form 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 Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine, 1663
Cabourdin, Guy, Terres et hommes en Lorraine 1550-1635, 1977
Martin, Jean-Pierre, Histoire de la Lorraine, 2005
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