A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gors family of France.
Reg. 5166 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à un croiss. d'arg. en chef et un lion du même en p.; au 2 reparti: a. de gu. à la demi-aigle d'arg. en chef, mouv. de la partition dextre, et à la demi-croix pattée d'arg. en p., mouv. de même; b. bandé d'or et d'azur de huit pièces.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gors Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gors arms are recorded
The Gors arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gors 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 France.
Origin & History of the Gors Family in France
The family name Gors finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of Brittany, a region in northwestern France where the family was firmly established by the year 1663. Linguists often link the name to the Breton language, where the word "gors" relates to elevated ground or a hill, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent geographical feature. During the seventeenth century, families in this area were deeply connected to the land and the local parish system, which served as the center of both social and religious life. As the family grew, they became part of the resilient rural culture of Brittany, navigating the unique traditions and linguistic heritage that defined the region during the reign of King Louis XIV. This early presence in Brittany marks the beginning of a long lineage that remained tied to the local customs and the distinct identity of the Breton people for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gors
Derived from the Old French word for a weir or dam.
This name
GorsRefers to a person who lived near a weir or a fishing enclosure.
also spelled
Gorse
Gors
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales du Finistère, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Tanguy, Bernard, Dictionnaire des noms de communes, trèves et paroisses du Finistère, 1990
Deshayes, Albert, Dictionnaire des noms de famille bretons, 1995
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
