A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gasse family of France.
Reg. 5924 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.; aux 2 et 3 coupé d'arg. sur gu.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Gasse Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Gasse arms are recorded
The Gasse 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 Gasse 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 Gasse Family in France
The family name Gasse has deep roots in the Languedoc region of southern France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, derived from the Old French word "gasse," which referred to a narrow street or a small passage. In the rural landscape of the seventeenth century, such names often identified families who lived near a specific path or a constricted alleyway within a village. During this period, the Languedoc region was a hub of agricultural activity and religious transition, and families like the Gasses were often tied to the land through farming or local trades. 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 steady presence in the area for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gasse
Derived from the Germanic personal name Gasso meaning guest or stranger.
This name
GasseA topographic name for someone living near a narrow street or alleyway.
also spelled
Gassae
Gass
Gas
Related arms
Gassvariant spelling
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 des registres paroissiaux
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
