A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gares family of France.
Reg. 7475 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 la croix de sa., cant. de quatre trèfles du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gares Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gares arms are recorded
The Gares arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gares 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gares Family in France
The family name Gares has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and strong ties to the sea. Families living in this area often relied on agriculture or maritime trade to sustain their livelihoods. The name itself likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the region, reflecting the way people identified their origins or occupations in rural communities. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Breton countryside, living through a period of significant cultural identity and regional autonomy. By tracing these early records, we see a family that was firmly integrated into the local life and traditions of western France long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gara
Old Occitan term referring to a marshy or uncultivated wasteland.
This name
GaresA topographic surname for someone who lived near a marshy or barren area.
also spelled
Garez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Poter, Jean, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
cross symbolChristian faith and service
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
