A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gap family of France.
Reg. 9166 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
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)
“D'azur à un lévrier d'arg.; au chef du même, ch. de deux étoiles du champ.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1721
Where the Gap Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Gap arms are recorded
The Gap arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1721.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Gap 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Gap Family in France
The family name Gap finds its historical roots in the region of Lorraine, France, where members of the family were documented as early as 1721. During the eighteenth century, Lorraine was a territory defined by its transition between the influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the French Crown. Families living in this area were often shaped by the agricultural traditions and the complex social structures of the borderlands. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term or a geographic identifier, reflecting the way people in small villages were identified by their surroundings or their specific trade. As the family established their presence in this region, they became part of the local fabric of rural life, participating in the parish systems and community activities that defined the era. By settling in Lorraine, the early members of the Gap family contributed to the long history of a region known for its resilience and its unique cultural blend of French and Germanic influences.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gapa
Old Germanic term referring to an opening, gap, or mountain pass.
This name
GapA topographic name for someone who lived near a mountain pass or a natural opening.
also spelled
Gap
Gape
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Cabourdin, Guy, Histoire de la Lorraine, 1991
Lepage, Henri, Les communes de la Meurthe: journal historique des villes, bourgs, villages, hameaux et censes de ce département, 1853
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
