A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gagne family of France.
Reg. 0144 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à trois molettes d'or. S.: deux licornes, au nat. D.: RECALCITRANTEM COGO.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Gagne Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Gagne arms are recorded
The Gagne arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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 Gagne 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Gagne Family in France
The surname Gagné originates from the historical region of Bourgogne in east-central France. The name is derived from the Old French word gaignier, which refers to someone who works the land or a farmer. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this fertile region. Many individuals carrying this name were likely involved in the agricultural traditions that defined the local economy of the time. As the family grew, some members eventually left their ancestral home to seek new opportunities in the French colonies of North America. This migration helped spread the name across the Atlantic, where it remains a common and recognizable family name today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gagner
to harvest, cultivate, or gain through labor
This name
Gagnea person who works the land, a farmer, or a harvester
also spelled
Gagnez
Gagn
Ganye
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
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
