A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garate family of France.
Reg. 7450 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à une Foi d'arg., posée en barre; au 2 de sa. à un lévrier d'or, coll. du même, la tête cont., couché sur une terrasse aussi d'or.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Garate Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Garate arms are recorded
The Garate 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 Garate 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 Garate Family in France
The surname Garate is deeply rooted in the Basque region, where it originally functioned as a topographic name derived from the Basque word for a mountain pass or a high ridge. Families carrying this name were historically tied to the rugged landscape of the Pyrenees, often living near elevated areas that served as natural gateways between valleys. By the early 18th century, members of the family had migrated from these ancestral lands into the Brittany region of France. Records confirm their presence in Bretagne by 1725, suggesting that the family was part of the broader movement of people traveling for trade, labor, or regional shifts during that era. This transition from the mountainous Basque country to the coastal plains of Brittany highlights the adaptability of the family as they integrated into new communities while maintaining their distinct ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gara
Basque word referring to a steep slope or a mountain pass.
This name
GarateA topographic surname denoting someone who lived near a steep hillside or mountain pass.
also spelled
Garate
Garats
Gara
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Gorrochategui, Joaquín, Estudio sobre la onomástica indígena de Aquitania, 1984
Michelena, Luis, Apellidos vascos, 1953
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
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
handFaith, sincerity and justice
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
handFaith, sincerity and justice
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
