A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gargas family of France.
Reg. 4020 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Éc.: aux 1 et 4 échiq. d'or et de gu., de cinq tires; aux 2 et 3 losangé d'or et d'azur.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Gargas Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Gargas arms are recorded
The Gargas arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Gargas 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Gargas Family in France
The Gargas family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southwestern France, particularly within the region of Guyenne. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well established in this area, which was known for its rich agricultural traditions and complex social structure. The name likely originated as a locative surname, meaning it was used to identify individuals based on the specific village or geographic feature where they resided. During the seventeenth century, families in Guyenne often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they played essential roles in local commerce and land management. As the family grew, they became part of the fabric of provincial life, navigating the political and economic shifts that defined the Gascony region during the reign of King Louis XIV. Their presence in these early records highlights a legacy of endurance and integration within the French countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gargantua
Derived from the Latin word for throat or gullet.
This name
GargasA topographic surname referring to someone living near a gorge or deep ravine.
also spelled
Gargat
Gargasse
Gargaz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de Guyenne, 1663
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Papy, Michel, Histoire de la Guyenne, 1996
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
