A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaver family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1251 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé de sa. sur gu.; au lion d'or, br. sur le coupé.”
ArtoisArtois, c. 1663
Where the Gaver Arms Were Recorded
Artois
Map of France showing where the Gaver arms are recorded
The Gaver arms were recorded in Artois, c. 1663.
Artois lay on the disputed ground between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms, and a shield was how a fighting household was known.
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 Gaver 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 Artois.
Origin & History of the Gaver Family in France
The history of the Gaver family in France is deeply rooted in the historical province of Artois, a region known for its strategic importance and complex cultural shifts during the seventeenth century. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were established in this area, which was then transitioning from Spanish Habsburg control to French rule under King Louis XIV. The name likely emerged from the local linguistic landscape of the northern borderlands, where French and Flemish influences often blended together in surnames. Families in Artois during this period were frequently involved in the agricultural and administrative life of the countryside, navigating the frequent military conflicts that defined the region. As the province became more integrated into the French kingdom, the Gaver family continued to build their lives within these shifting borders, contributing to the local community through their work and presence in the towns and villages of the Artois plains.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au double trècheur fleur. et c.-fleur. de sin. - Armes mod.: D'or au lion de gu., arm., lamp. et sommé d'une couronne royale d'azur; à la bord. échancrée de sa. C.: un chapeau de gu., retr.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1592
Where the Gaver Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Gaver arms are recorded
The Gaver arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1592.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Philip II of Spain
Sovereign of the period
Philip II of Spain
1556–1598
Reigning in France when the Gaver arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Brabant.
Origin & History of the Gaver Family in Belgium
The family name Gaver finds its historical roots in the region of Brabant, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1592. During this period, the name was closely tied to the landscape of the Low Countries, as the term "gaver" often referred to low-lying or marshy land near a river. Families living in these areas frequently adopted names that described their specific surroundings or the geography of their ancestral farms. By the late sixteenth century, the Gaver family was part of the local social fabric in Brabant, living through a time of significant political and religious change in the region. As they settled into their communities, they contributed to the agricultural and social development of the area, maintaining their presence in the local records as they navigated the complexities of life in the Spanish Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaufridus
A Germanic name meaning territory or district peace.
This name
GaverA patronymic surname derived from the given name Geoffrey, signifying son of the peaceful ruler.
also spelled
Gavere
Gaver
Gav
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, Série E: État civil et registres paroissiaux
Dion, Roger, Histoire des levées de la Loire, 1961
Lottin, Alain, Histoire des provinces françaises du Nord, 1989
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
