A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gapen family of France.
Reg. 8622 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un écusson d'azur en abîme, acc. de six bill. du même, rangées en orle.”
PonthieuPonthieu, c. 1663
Where the Gapen Arms Were Recorded
Ponthieu
Map of France showing where the Gapen arms are recorded
The Gapen arms were recorded in Ponthieu, c. 1663.
Ponthieu was small coastal country in northern France, on the road armies took between the Channel and Paris. Its families held land in return for service, and men who served carried shields.
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 Gapen 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 Ponthieu.
Origin & History of the Gapen Family in France
The family name Gapen finds its historical roots in the region of Ponthieu, located in northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this area, which was known for its proximity to the English Channel and its long history of agricultural trade. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of Picardy often lived in small rural communities where they worked as skilled laborers or landowners. The name likely evolved as a local identifier for individuals living near specific geographic landmarks or within particular village clusters. As the seventeenth century progressed, the social and economic pressures of life in northern France encouraged some members of the family to seek new opportunities, eventually leading to the migration of the name across international borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gape
Old French term referring to an open mouth or gaping expression.
This name
GapenA nickname for an individual who was habitually open-mouthed or astonished.
also spelled
Gapenne
Gapen
Gapenes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Somme, Série B: Cours et juridictions
Boucher de Perthes, Jacques, Histoire de l'agriculture dans le Ponthieu, 1852
Dusevel, Hyacinthe, Histoire de la ville d'Abbeville et du comté de Ponthieu, 1844
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billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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