Map of France showing where the Garrigan arms are recorded
The Garrigan arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 Garrigan 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Garrigan Family in France
The family name Garrigan traces its roots in France to the historic region of Lorraine, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During this period, Lorraine was a crossroads of European culture and politics, situated between the French Kingdom and the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often navigated a complex landscape of shifting borders and local traditions. The name likely developed through the linguistic evolution common to the northeastern provinces, where French, German, and local dialects blended over many generations. By settling in Lorraine during the mid-seventeenth century, the early Garrigan family became part of a resilient population that endured the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War, a time when many families worked to rebuild their communities and establish deep roots in the local countryside.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. three lozenges gu. (another, fusils)”
SussexSussex, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Garrigan arms are recorded
The Garrigan arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Garrigan arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Garrigan Family in England
The family name Garrigan has roots that stretch back to the early seventeenth century in the county of Sussex, England. During this period, the region was a center for iron production and rural agriculture, which likely shaped the daily lives of the earliest recorded family members. By 1620, the name was already established within the local parish records, suggesting that the family was part of the settled working population of the English countryside. Life in Sussex at this time was defined by the transition from the Elizabethan era into the political instability of the early Stuart period. Families like the Garrigans often lived in small, tight-knit communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or skilled trade. While the name is often associated with later migration patterns, its presence in Sussex during the early 1600s highlights its deep connection to the history of southern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garrigue
A type of low-growing, scrubby Mediterranean vegetation found on limestone soils.
This name
GarriganRefers to a person who lived in or near a scrubland or rocky terrain.
also spelled
Gargant
Gargen
Gargain
Garganne
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Meurthe-et-Moselle, Registres paroissiaux de Lorraine, 1663
Cabourdin, Guy, La vie quotidienne en Lorraine au XVIIe siècle, 1984
Martin, Jean-Paul, Histoire de la Lorraine, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fusilTravail and industry
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
