A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gomer family of France.
Reg. 3623 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un geai au nat., perché sur un annelet d'or, soutenu d'une mer de sin.; au 2 d'arg. à un coeur de gu., acc. de trois trèfles de sin.; au 3 d'arg. à l'aigle de sa., ch. d'un écusson d'azur surch. de trois fermaux d'arg.”
MaineMaine, c. 1663
Where the Gomer Arms Were Recorded
Maine
Map of France showing where the Gomer arms are recorded
The Gomer arms were recorded in Maine, c. 1663.
Maine was quiet farming country in western France, held in small manors by families who stayed for generations. Nothing about it was grand, but steady landholding is exactly what puts a name in the registers.
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 Gomer 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 Maine.
Origin & History of the Gomer Family in France
The Gomer family name has deep roots in the early colonial history of North America, with documented evidence placing family members in the region of Maine as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, the Maine frontier was a rugged and challenging environment where settlers often lived in small, isolated coastal communities. Those who carried the Gomer name were likely among the early pioneers who navigated the complex relationships between European settlers and the indigenous Wabanaki Confederacy. While the name itself may have origins in older European naming traditions, its presence in Maine marks a significant chapter in the family story as they helped establish some of the earliest permanent settlements in New England. These early ancestors were part of a resilient group of people who shaped the local economy through fishing, timber, and trade during a time of great political uncertainty.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gommarus
Derived from the Germanic elements for man and famous or warrior.
This name
GomerA French surname originating from a Germanic personal name meaning famous warrior.
Related arms
Gommervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Libby, Charles Thornton, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, 1928
Maine State Archives, York Deeds, 1642–1737
Baxter, James Phinney, Documentary History of the State of Maine, 1889
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