A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gain family of France.
Reg. 8552 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 poignards d'arg., acc. en p. de trois molettes d'or.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gain Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gain arms are recorded
The Gain arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gain 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 Gain Family in France
The family name Gain has deep roots in the historical province of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well established within this rugged coastal region. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, as many surnames in Bretagne were derived from descriptive nicknames or the specific trades practiced by early ancestors. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied closely to the land and the unique cultural identity of the Breton people. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local parishes, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the region. Their presence in 1663 marks a significant point in their history, showing that the Gain family was already an active part of the community long before modern record-keeping became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gagnier
Derived from the Old French verb gagner meaning to farm or cultivate.
This name
GainAn occupational surname for a farmer, agricultural laborer, or someone who earns their living from the land.
also spelled
Gain
Gains
Carce
Gain-Carce
Gan de Karse
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Finistère, Collection de l'Intendance de Bretagne
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
