A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerot family of France.
Reg. 6066 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
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 la fasce de sa., acc. de trois coquilles du même.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gerot Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gerot arms are recorded
The Gerot arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Gerot 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gerot Family in France
The family name Gerot traces its roots back to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1663. The name is considered a patronymic, meaning it was originally derived from the given name Giraud or Gerold, which were popular choices among the local population during the Middle Ages. As surnames became more permanent and hereditary, families often adopted these personal names to identify their lineage within their local parish. Given the geography of Bretagne, the early Gerot family likely lived in a rural or coastal environment where they participated in the traditional agricultural or maritime activities common to the region. By the mid-seventeenth century, the presence of the name in official records suggests that the family was well-integrated into the social and administrative life of their community, maintaining deep ties to the land and the local church.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from the Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GerotA French diminutive form indicating a descendant of one who is strong with a spear.
also spelled
Gerotte
Zhero
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
