A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geers family of France.
Reg. 9160 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois têtes d'aigle de sa.”
FlandreFlandre, c. 1663
Where the Geers Arms Were Recorded
Flandre
Map of France showing where the Geers arms are recorded
The Geers arms were recorded in Flandre, c. 1663.
Flandre grew rich on cloth, and its towns were among the busiest in Europe. Merchant families bought land with their profits and took arms to go with it, so trade put as many names in the registers here as land did.
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 Geers 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 Flandre.
Origin & History of the Geers Family in France
The surname Geers is deeply rooted in the historical region of Flanders, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1663. The name is considered a patronymic, meaning it was originally derived from the given name Gerhard or Geerard, which was a common choice in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. Over time, the name evolved into its shorter form as a way to identify individuals as the children or descendants of a man named Geer. Families bearing this name were typically part of the industrious local population in the Flemish provinces, often working as farmers, craftsmen, or merchants within the bustling trade networks of the seventeenth century. Because the region was a crossroads for many different cultures and languages, the spelling of the name remained consistent due to the strong influence of the local Dutch dialect. By the mid-1600s, the Geers family had become a stable part of the social fabric in Flanders, contributing to the agricultural and economic life of their local parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GeersA patronymic form indicating a descendant of someone named Gerhard.
also spelled
Geerz
Related arms
Geervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief), Parochieregisters (Doop-, huwelijks- en overlijdensakten), 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
