A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaertner family of France.
Reg. 2605 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une ancre d'or, en barre; aux 2 et 3 d'or à la bande de gu., ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg., posées dans le sens de la bande. Cq. cour. C.: trois lis de jardin d'arg., tigés et feuillés de sin. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Francec. 1806
Where the Gaertner Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gaertner arms are recorded
The Gaertner arms were recorded in France, c. 1806.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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.
Napoleon
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon
1804–1814
Reigning in France when the Gaertner 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 France.
Origin & History of the Gaertner Family in France
The surname Gaertner is of Germanic origin and translates to the word gardener. Historically, this name functioned as an occupational title for individuals who managed gardens, orchards, or small plots of land. While the name is deeply rooted in Central European regions, branches of the family moved across borders due to shifting political boundaries and labor migration. By 1806, records confirm that members of the Gaertner family were established in the Bretagne region of France. Their presence in this coastal area suggests that the family likely adapted to new environments while maintaining their traditional trade or integrating into the local agricultural economy of the time. This migration highlights how families often moved across the continent to seek new opportunities during the early nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gard
An enclosure or a protected piece of land.
This name
GaertnerAn occupational surname for a gardener or someone who tended an enclosed plot of land.
also spelled
Gaertener
Gertner
Gardner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil de la commune de Lorient, 1806
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
