A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gegen family of France.
Reg. 5490 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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'or à un arbre de sin.; et un sanglier de sa., br. sur le fût.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gegen Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gegen arms are recorded
The Gegen arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Gegen 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 France.
Origin & History of the Gegen Family in France
The family name Gegen is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Brittany region of France, where records confirm their presence as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Brittany was a distinct province with its own unique cultural identity and social structure. Families like the Gegens often lived in rural parishes, where their daily lives were tied to the seasonal rhythms of agriculture and local trade. Because the name appears in parish registers from this era, it is likely that these early ancestors were well-established members of their local communities. These records serve as a vital link to the past, showing how the family name persisted through generations of social and political change in western France. By studying these early footprints, we can see how the Gegen family helped shape the history of their home region long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gegenn
An Old French term referring to a person who is a neighbor.
This name
GegenA locative or descriptive surname identifying an individual who lives nearby or is a fellow resident.
also spelled
Gueguenn
Gegen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Pocquet du Haut-Jussé, Barthélemy, Histoire de la Bretagne, 1937
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
