A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gimbert family of France.
Reg. 8893 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au chev. de gu., acc. en p. d'une touffe de persil (gimbert) de sin.; au chef d'azur, ch. d'un croiss. d'arg., entre deux étoiles d'or.”
LanguedocLanguedoc, c. 1663
Where the Gimbert Arms Were Recorded
Languedoc
Map of France showing where the Gimbert arms are recorded
The Gimbert arms were recorded in Languedoc, c. 1663.
Languedoc stretched across the south of France, a country of small towns, vineyards and old local families. Its gentry were numerous rather than grand, and a great many of them held arms even where their estates were modest.
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 Gimbert 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 Languedoc.
Origin & History of the Gimbert Family in France
The family name Gimbert finds its historical roots in the Languedoc region of southern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. The name is believed to be a variation of the Germanic personal name Gislebert, which combines the elements for a pledge or hostage with the word for bright or famous. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France were often deeply connected to the land and local agricultural traditions. As the name spread through the Languedoc countryside, it became a marker of a lineage that lived through the complex religious and social shifts of the era. By establishing themselves in this specific region, the early Gimberts were part of a vibrant community that navigated the transition from the feudal structures of the past toward the more centralized administration of the French monarchy.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisliberht
Derived from Germanic elements meaning pledge or hostage and bright or famous.
This name
GimbertA patronymic surname originating from the Old Germanic personal name meaning bright pledge.
also spelled
Gimberte
Gimbertt
Gimber
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Hérault, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
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