A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaucher family of France.
Reg. 3554 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“D'arg. au chev. d'azur, acc. en chef de deux croisettes de sa. et en p. d'une étoile de gu.; au chef du même, ch. de trois bes. d'or.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1668
Where the Gaucher Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Gaucher arms are recorded
The Gaucher arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1668.
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 Gaucher 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 Gaucher Family in France
The surname Gaucher finds its roots in the medieval French language, originating as a given name derived from the Old French word *gaucher*, which means left-handed. During the Middle Ages, it was common for descriptive nicknames to eventually transition into permanent hereditary family names. By the year 1668, records confirm that members of the Gaucher family were well-established in the Lorraine region of northeastern France. This area was a frequent crossroads for trade and cultural exchange, placing the family in a dynamic environment during a period of significant political transition for the province. As they lived in Lorraine, the family likely participated in the agricultural and artisanal traditions that defined the local economy of the seventeenth century, helping to anchor the name within the social fabric of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gauche
The Old French word for left or left-handed.
This name
GaucherA nickname originally used to describe a person who was left-handed.
also spelled
Gauchier
Gosher
Gosha
Related arms
Menysimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle. Registres paroissiaux et d’état civil de Lorraine. 1668
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
