Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois moutons d'arg.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaudry family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois moutons d'arg.”
The Gaudry arms were recorded in Bourgogne, c. 1663.
Bourgogne was one of the richest parts of France, built on wine, wool and the roads that carried both. Wealth of that kind bought land, and land brought arms, so the region filled with armed families earlier than most of the country.
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.
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.
The family name Gaudry finds its historical roots in the lush, rolling landscapes of the Bourgogne region of France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were well-established residents within this historic province. The name itself is thought to be derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Waldric, which eventually evolved through local dialects into the form recognized today. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were often tied closely to the land and the local agricultural economy. As the name spread from its origins in Bourgogne, it became a marker of a lineage deeply connected to the social and cultural traditions of central France. The persistence of the name across centuries suggests that these early ancestors were stable members of their community who helped shape the identity of the region during a time of significant transition in French history.
A Germanic compound meaning rule or power combined with army or warrior.
