A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gosse family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2043 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à neuf croisettes d'or, 4 3 et 2.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Gosse Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Gosse arms are recorded
The Gosse arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 Gosse 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Gosse Family in France
The surname Gosse has deep roots in the northern regions of France, particularly within the historic province of Normandy. By the mid-17th century, the family was firmly established in this coastal area, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in the region by 1663. The name itself is thought to have evolved from ancient Germanic roots, likely serving as a shortened form of names containing the element "god," which translates to "good" or "god." During this period, many families in Normandy were tied to the land through agriculture or maritime trade, reflecting the rugged and industrious nature of the local population. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the French countryside, participating in the local parish life and community structures that defined life under the Old Regime. These early generations helped shape the identity of the name as it transitioned from a simple identifier to a lasting family legacy that would eventually spread far beyond the borders of Normandy.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, fretty az. on a pile engr. sa. three pheons ar”
SurreyEpsom · Surrey, c. 1620
Where the Gosse Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Gosse arms are recorded
The Gosse arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1620.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Gosse arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Surrey.
Origin & History of the Gosse Family in England
The surname Gosse has deep roots in the English landscape, with early records confirming the family’s presence in the county of Surrey by the year 1620. The name itself is thought to have originated as a nickname derived from the Middle English word "gos," meaning goose, which was often used to describe someone with a waddling gait or a person who was perceived as simple or foolish. During the seventeenth century, families like the Gosses were typically part of the rural working class, often living as tenant farmers or tradespeople who were closely tied to the local parish system. As they established themselves in Surrey, these early family members would have been recorded in local church registers during baptisms, marriages, and burials. This era was a time of significant social change in England, and the movement of families like the Gosses reflects the broader patterns of local settlement and community life that defined the English countryside before the Industrial Revolution.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaut
A Germanic element meaning ruler or god.
This name
GosseA diminutive form of names beginning with Gaut, often signifying a young ruler or son of the god.
also spelled
Gozze
Gose
Goss
Goz
Related arms
Gosesvariant spelling
Gossvariant spelling
Gozzevariant spelling
Brownrecorded with Gosse, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dauzat, Albert. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France. 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille. 1991
Archives départementales de la Seine-Maritime, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
arms pheon arrowheadReadiness for battle, and the broad arrow of the sovereign
