A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gosselin family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2786 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois pommes tigées et feuillées d'or.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Gosselin Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Gosselin arms are recorded
The Gosselin 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 Gosselin 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 Gosselin Family in France
The Gosselin family name traces its deep roots to the historic region of Normandy in northern France. The name is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Goslin, which was a common diminutive form used during the Middle Ages. By the time the family became well-documented in the mid-seventeenth century, they were firmly established as part of the social fabric of the Norman countryside. Many members of the family lived as hardworking farmers and craftsmen who contributed to the local economy and community life. Their presence in Normandy by 1663 reflects a long-standing connection to the land, where families often remained in the same parishes for generations. This deep regional identity helped shape the family history as they navigated the changing political and social landscape of seventeenth-century France.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Az. on a saltire ar. five guttées de sang”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Gosselin Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Gosselin arms are recorded
The Gosselin arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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 Gosselin 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 England.
Origin & History of the Gosselin Family in England
The name Gosselin finds its roots in the ancient Germanic personal name Goscelin, which eventually evolved into a surname as families began to adopt hereditary names during the Middle Ages. While the name has strong connections to Normandy, it became firmly established in England through centuries of migration and trade. By the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Gosselin family were well-settled in the city of York. At this time, York was a bustling center of commerce and regional administration, suggesting that these early family members were likely involved in the city’s active merchant class or local craft guilds. As they integrated into English society, the family name persisted through generations, moving from a simple given name used by ancestors to a permanent identifier that linked their descendants to the historical landscape of Northern England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gautzelin
A diminutive form derived from the Germanic name Gautzel.
This name
GosselinA patronymic surname originating from a diminutive of the Germanic name Gautzel, meaning little Goth.
also spelled
Gosselyn
Gocelin
Gocelyn
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, 1663
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applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
applePeace, plenty and long-standing settlement
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
