A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gorter family of France.
Reg. 5674 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé de gu. sur sa.; à deux saumons adossés d'or, br. sur le coupé.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Gorter Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gorter arms are recorded
The Gorter 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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Gorter 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 Gorter Family in France
The surname Gorter is rooted in the Germanic and Dutch linguistic traditions, where it historically functioned as an occupational name. It is derived from the word "gort," which refers to hulled grain or groats. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely millers, grain merchants, or farmers who specialized in the production of cereal crops. By the early eighteenth century, members of the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne in France. Their migration into this area likely followed the established trade routes that linked the Low Countries with the Atlantic coast. As these individuals settled into their new communities, they maintained their family identity while adapting to the local customs and language of their adopted home. This transition highlights the mobility of families during the eighteenth century as they sought new economic opportunities across European borders.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gort
A Middle Dutch term referring to hulled grain or groats.
This name
GorterAn occupational surname for a person who produced or sold hulled grain.
also spelled
Gorter de Brabe
Gorter
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Debrabandere, Frans. Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk. 2003
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1997
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fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
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