A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gougeon family of France.
Reg. 8279 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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., acc. en flancs de deux étoiles et en p. d'un croiss., le tout d'azur.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gougeon Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gougeon arms are recorded
The Gougeon arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
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 Gougeon 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gougeon Family in France
The Gougeon family name has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the lineage were firmly established by 1663. The name is believed to be a diminutive form of the ancient Germanic name Gogo, which was common in the early Middle Ages. Over many centuries, families with this name lived primarily as rural landowners and farmers in the western coastal provinces. Because the name evolved through local dialects, it reflects the unique linguistic history of the Breton people. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had become part of the local social fabric, with members contributing to the agricultural and community life of their parishes. This period marked a time when many families began to appear more frequently in official church registers, helping to preserve the history of the name for future generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaut
Derived from the Germanic element meaning ruler or leader of the Goths.
This name
GougeonA diminutive form indicating a descendant of a powerful or noble leader.
also spelled
Goujeon
Goozhon
Related arms
Goujeonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille 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.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
