A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaze family of France.
Reg. 3755 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un croiss. d'arg., acc. de sept bill. du même, 3 en chef, 2 en flancs et 2 en p.”
BourgogneBourgogne, c. 1663
Where the Gaze Arms Were Recorded
Bourgogne
Map of France showing where the Gaze arms are recorded
The Gaze 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.
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 Gaze 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 Bourgogne.
Origin & History of the Gaze Family in France
The family name Gaze has deep roots in the historical region of Bourgogne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bourgogne was a prominent center for viticulture and trade, and families living in this area were often closely tied to the land and the local economy. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects or nicknames that described a person’s physical traits or their specific occupation within the community. As the family established itself in the French countryside, they became part of the social fabric of the province during a time of significant political change under the reign of King Louis XIV. Over the following generations, the Gaze family continued to live and work within this culturally rich landscape, helping to shape the local history of their home region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gase
Derived from the Germanic personal name Gazo meaning spear or lance.
This name
GazeA topographic name for someone living near a watchtower or a nickname for a watchful person.
also spelled
Gazee de Joursanvaux
Gaze de Joursanvauxx
Gaze de Joursanv
Gaz de Joorsanvo
Gaze
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Côte-d'Or, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Bouchard, Gérard, Quelques aspects de la vie sociale en Bourgogne, 1978
Garnier, Joseph, Chartes de communes et d'affranchissements en Bourgogne, 1867
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
