Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un épervier d'arg., bq., m. et grilleté d'or, perché sur un chicot du sec.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gol family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à un épervier d'arg., bq., m. et grilleté d'or, perché sur un chicot du sec.”
The Gol 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.
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 Gol has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language, often separating it from the rest of the French kingdom. Families living in this coastal area were frequently involved in maritime trade, agriculture, or local administration. The name itself is short and distinct, which suggests it may have originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened version of a longer regional name. As the family established itself in the rural parishes of the region, they likely participated in the tight-knit village life that defined Breton society at the time. By maintaining their presence in the area through generations, the early members of the Gol family helped shape the local community and contributed to the enduring cultural heritage of the Breton people.
Refers to the ancient region of Gaul or a person from there.
