A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gossard family of France.
Reg. 9461 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au saut. de sin., ch. de cinq bes. d'or et cant. de quatre croisettes de gu.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gossard Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gossard arms are recorded
The Gossard 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 Gossard 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 Gossard Family in France
The surname Gossard traces its roots to the historic region of Bretagne in northwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this coastal territory. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the term "gossard" was historically used in Old French to describe someone who was considered talkative or perhaps a bit mischievous. During the seventeenth century, families in this part of France often lived in close-knit rural communities centered around agriculture and local parish life. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, eventually spreading across different provinces as people moved for trade and marriage. Their presence in the historical archives of Bretagne provides a clear link to the traditional lifestyle and naming customs of early modern France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gosse
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for Goth.
This name
GossardA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of the person named Gosse.
also spelled
Gossard
Gossar
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morvan, Françoise, Bretagne est l'univers, 2001
Archives Départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
