A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gach family of France.
Reg. 3553 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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 une colombe d'arg., acc. de trois roses du même.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Gach Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Gach arms are recorded
The Gach arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 Gach 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 Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Gach Family in France
The family name Gach has deep roots in the historical province of Dauphiné, located in the southeastern region of France. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this mountainous area by at least 1663. During the seventeenth century, Dauphiné was a region defined by its rugged landscape and its proximity to the Alps, which influenced the daily lives and occupations of those living there. Families in this area often worked in agriculture or trade, navigating the complex social structures of the time. The name likely evolved from local dialects or regional nicknames common to the French Alps, serving as a way to identify specific lineages within these tight-knit mountain communities. By maintaining a presence in this region, the early Gach family became part of the long history of the French provinces, contributing to the cultural and social fabric of the area long before modern record-keeping systems were fully standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gach
Derived from the Old Occitan word gach meaning watch or guard.
This name
GachA topographic or occupational name for a watchman or someone stationed at a lookout point.
also spelled
Gaches
Gach
Gash
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil, 1663
Borel d'Hauterive, André, Annuaire de la noblesse de France et des maisons souveraines de l'Europe, 1855
Brun-Durand, Justin, Dictionnaire topographique du département de la Drôme, 1891
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
