A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goffer family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à trois jumelles de sa. C.: un lion iss. Devise: un tronc d'arbre, avec ces mots: HIC TERMINUS HÆRET. T.: deux sauvages, ou deux griffons.”
The Goffer arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
Reigning in France when the Goffer arms are first recorded.
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.
The family name Goffer finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members by the year 1725. During the eighteenth century, this region was defined by a strong connection to the land and a distinct cultural identity that separated it from the rest of the country. Families living in this area often relied on agriculture or maritime trades to sustain their households. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the Breton people, who maintained unique traditions and dialects for generations. As these early ancestors navigated life in the rural parishes of Bretagne, they contributed to the local community through their work and social ties. Their presence in the historical record during this time reflects the steady growth and movement of families across the French countryside before the major political shifts of the late eighteenth century.
Derived from Germanic elements meaning god and peace.
