A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gardo family of France.
Reg. 5049 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 chien couché d'or; au chef de gu., ch. d'un croiss. du sec.; au 2 d'arg. à la patte arr. de cinq onglons de sin., ch. de six bes. d'arg., 3, 2 et 1.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Gardo Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Gardo arms are recorded
The Gardo arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Gardo 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Gardo Family in France
The family name Gardo traces its roots to the historic Languedoc region of southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this area. During the seventeenth century, Languedoc was a center of agricultural production and trade, and families like the Gardos were often tied to the land or local commerce. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects spoken in the south of France, reflecting the unique linguistic traditions of the Occitan culture. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local parishes, leaving behind traces in baptismal and marriage registers that document their daily lives and movements across the countryside. These early ancestors helped shape the identity of their community through their work and their long-standing presence in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gard
Derived from the Germanic word for an enclosure, yard, or garden.
This name
GardoRefers to a person who lived near or worked within a protected enclosure or garden.
also spelled
Gardo
Gardons
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Archives départementales du Gard, Collection de documents anciens sur les familles languedociennes
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, Les paysans de Languedoc, 1966
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
pawStrength held ready, the beast's power in a single limb
