A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gage family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3629 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 éc. en saut. d'azur et d'arg.; au saut. de gu., br. sur le tout (Gage); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un soleil d'or (St.-Clere). C.: un bélier pass. d'arg., accorné et onglé d'or. S.: deux lévriers au nat., chacun d'une couronne d'or composée de fleurs-de-lis. D.: COURAGE SANS PEUR.”
Francec. 1622
Where the Gage Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gage arms are recorded
The Gage arms were recorded in France, c. 1622.
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.
Louis XIII of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIII of France
1617–1643
Reigning in France when the Gage 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 Gage Family in France
The history of the Gage family in France is deeply tied to the social and political landscape of the Brittany region during the early seventeenth century. Records confirm that members of the family were established in this area by 1622, a time when Brittany functioned as a distinct province with its own legal customs and cultural identity. The name itself likely originated from the Old French word "gage," which referred to a pledge, a security, or a form of payment. In the context of medieval society, this term often identified individuals who held positions of trust or those who managed financial obligations and legal contracts. As the family settled into the Breton landscape, they became part of the local fabric, navigating the complex shifts in power and administration that defined life in western France before the full centralization of the French monarchy. Their presence in the region suggests a history of integration into the local community, where they likely participated in the agricultural and administrative life that sustained the province during this era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st and 4th, gyronny of four az. and ar. a saltire gu., for GAGE; 2nd and 3rd, az. the sun in splendour or, for ST. CLERE”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gage Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gage arms are recorded
The Gage arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Gage arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Gage Family in England
The surname Gage has deep roots in English history, evolving from a nickname used to describe a person who acted as a pledge or a surety for others. By the time the family established a presence in York around 1620, the name had already been documented in various regions of England for several centuries. Early bearers of the name often lived in rural communities where they worked as landholders or tradespeople, gradually moving toward urban centers like York as the economy shifted. During the early seventeenth century, families in York were often involved in the growing merchant class or local governance, which allowed them to build stable lives in a city known for its rich medieval heritage. This period was a time of significant social change in England, and the Gage family’s presence in York reflects the broader movement of people seeking new opportunities in the northern heartland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gage
Derived from the Old French word for a pledge or security.
This name
GageOriginally a nickname for a person who provided a pledge or served as a hostage.
also spelled
Gages
Gaggee
Gag
Gayj
Gaige
Related arms
Kitsonrecorded with Gage, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, La douce Bretagne, 2008
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E: Familles et seigneuries
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
