A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gamin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5309 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
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)
“De gu. à trois bes. d'or, figurés d'un visage humain d'arg.”
Ile-de-FranceIle-de-France, c. 1663
Where the Gamin Arms Were Recorded
Ile-de-France
Map of France showing where the Gamin arms are recorded
The Gamin arms were recorded in Ile-de-France, c. 1663.
Ile-de-France is the country around Paris, and proximity to the court mattered. Families who served the crown were rewarded with land near it, and land near the capital carried arms almost as a matter of course.
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 Gamin 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 Ile-de-France.
Origin & History of the Gamin Family in France
The surname Gamin traces its roots to the historic heart of France, with documented evidence placing the family in the Île-de-France region by 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area served as the political and cultural center of the kingdom under the reign of Louis XIV. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the term *gamin* was commonly used in regional dialects to describe a lively or spirited youth. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local social fabric of the countryside, living through a period of immense change as the French monarchy consolidated its power. By settling in the region surrounding Paris, these early ancestors were positioned at the center of French life, participating in the agricultural and trade activities that defined the era. Their presence in the official records of the mid-1600s highlights a long-standing connection to the landscape and the evolving language of the French people.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Gu. three bezants, each charged with a human head ppr”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gamin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gamin arms are recorded
The Gamin 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 Gamin 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 Gamin Family in England
The surname Gamin first appears in the historical record of York during the early seventeenth century, marking the family as part of the industrious urban population of Northern England. By 1620, individuals bearing this name were established within the city, likely participating in the local trade networks that defined York as a major regional hub. The name itself is thought to derive from Middle English or Old French roots, often associated with terms for a young boy or a servant, suggesting that the family may have originally been identified by a specific occupation or a personal trait. As residents of a walled city with deep medieval roots, the Gamin family lived through a period of significant social transition in England. Their presence in the parish registers of the time indicates they were integrated into the community life of the city, contributing to the local economy and social fabric long before the industrial shifts of later centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gamba
A Latin term referring to the leg or a joint.
This name
GaminA nickname for a mischievous or playful boy, derived from street urchin terminology.
also spelled
Gamyn
Gameen
Gammon
Gamon
Gamman
Related arms
Gamonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives nationales, Minutier central des notaires de Paris (Series ET/XXIX)
Fichier Origine, Fédération des sociétés de généalogie du Québec et de la Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie
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.
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
