A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gac family of France.
Reg. 3083 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or au lion de sa., arm et lamp. de gu. D.: SEMPER FIDELIS.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1438
Where the Gac Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gac arms are recorded
The Gac arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1438.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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.
Charles VII of France
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII of France
1422–1461
Reigning in France when the Gac 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gac Family in France
The family name Gac has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established as early as 1438. During the fifteenth century, the name was closely tied to the social and agricultural landscape of the Breton countryside. Families with this surname often lived in rural parishes where they worked as landowners or local officials. Because Brittany maintained a distinct culture and language during this time, the name likely evolved from local dialects used to describe a person’s character or their specific role within a village community. Over the following centuries, the Gac family remained a consistent presence in the region, helping to shape the local history of their home territory through their participation in parish life and regional administration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gace
Derived from the Germanic personal name Wazo meaning protection or guard.
This name
GacA patronymic surname originating from the Old French given name Gace, representing a descendant of Wazo.
also spelled
LeGac de Corran
Gac-Corran
LeGac-Lansalut
Le Gac de Koran et le Gac de Lansalu
Gac
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série E, Fonds de la seigneurie de Kerouzéré
Potier de Courcy, Pol, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, 1890
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
