A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gamper family of France.
Reg. 5156 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à un chamois arrêté et cont. d'arg., posé sur la cime d'un rocher escarpé du même, mouv. de la p.; au 2 coticé en barre de gu. et d'arg., de dix pièces. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un vol coupé, à dextre d'azur sur arg., à sen. d'arg. sur gu.; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° trois pl. d'aut.: d'azur, d'arg. et de gu.; l. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Gamper Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gamper arms are recorded
The Gamper arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Gamper 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 Gamper Family in France
The family name Gamper has deep roots that connect to the unique cultural landscape of the Brittany region in France. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were established within this coastal area, which was historically known for its distinct language and maritime traditions. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic patterns common in rural European communities, where surnames were often derived from a person’s occupation, a specific physical trait, or the location of their home. As the family settled into the social fabric of Brittany, they became part of a society that valued strong community ties and local craftsmanship. Over the following decades, the Gamper family name moved through generations, reflecting the steady growth and migration patterns typical of families living in the eighteenth century. Their presence in the region highlights how individual family histories are woven into the broader story of how people moved and settled across the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gamp
A dialectal term referring to a curved or bent shape.
This name
GamperAn occupational or descriptive surname for someone living near a curved piece of land.
also spelled
Gamper
Gamperge
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Gallouédec, Louis, La Bretagne, 1917
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
