A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gazelle family of France.
Reg. 8599 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à la fasce d'azur, acc. de trois étoiles du même.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Gazelle Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Gazelle arms are recorded
The Gazelle arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's 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 Gazelle 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Gazelle Family in France
The family name Gazelle finds its historical roots in the lush, mountainous region of Forez in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this province. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as was common practice in rural France during the seventeenth century. In the local dialect and culture of the time, such names were often inspired by the agility, grace, or speed of local wildlife, reflecting a connection to the natural landscape of the Massif Central. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local agrarian society, participating in the daily life and social structures of the Forez region long before the name spread to other parts of the country.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gazal
An Arabic term referring to a wild antelope or gazelle.
This name
GazelleA French topographic or habitational surname likely denoting someone who lived near a sign featuring an antelope.
also spelled
Gazelle
Gazelless
Gazell
Gazel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil de la commune de Forez, 1663
Fournier, Gabriel, Le peuplement rural en France au XVIIe siècle, 1972
Gonon, Marguerite, La vie quotidienne en Forez au XVIIe siècle, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
