A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gosson family of France.
Reg. 2737 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. fretté d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à trois fasces de gu. Au bâton de sa., posé en bande, br. sur le tout.”
ArtoisArtois, c. 1663
Where the Gosson Arms Were Recorded
Artois
Map of France showing where the Gosson arms are recorded
The Gosson arms were recorded in Artois, c. 1663.
Artois lay on the disputed ground between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms, and a shield was how a fighting household was known.
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 Gosson 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 Artois.
Origin & History of the Gosson Family in France
The family name Gosson has deep roots in the historical province of Artois, located in what is now northern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this region. The name itself is thought to have originated as a nickname or a variation of ancient Germanic personal names that were popular across Western Europe during the Middle Ages. Because Artois was a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange, families like the Gossons often moved between rural villages and growing market towns to support their livelihoods. Over time, the name became a permanent identifier for these individuals as they participated in the local agricultural and civic life of the province. Their presence in 1663 serves as a clear marker of a lineage that had already taken hold in the region long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gosse
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for Goth.
This name
GossonA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Gosse or a diminutive form of Godfrey.
also spelled
Gozon
Goson
Gozson
Related arms
Gozonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Pas-de-Calais, Série B (Cour féodale d'Artois)
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
