A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gourdon family of France.
Reg. 0818 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. de trois calebasses d'or.”
NivernaisNivernais, c. 1663
Where the Gourdon Arms Were Recorded
Nivernais
Map of France showing where the Gourdon arms are recorded
The Gourdon arms were recorded in Nivernais, c. 1663.
Nivernais was central French country of woods, ironworks and river trade. Its landed families were modest but numerous, and each holding brought its own claim to a coat of 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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Gourdon 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 Nivernais.
Origin & History of the Gourdon Family in France
The name Gourdon is deeply rooted in the geography of central France, specifically within the historic province of Nivernais. The name likely originated as a topographic surname, which was a common way to identify families based on the specific landscape or settlement where they lived. By 1663, records confirm that members of the Gourdon family were well-established in this region, participating in the local social and economic life of the area. During this period, families in Nivernais were often tied closely to the land, working as skilled tradespeople or agricultural landowners who helped shape the rural character of the province. As the family grew, they became a part of the long-standing traditions of the Nièvre department, contributing to the local history that defined the region throughout the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gordus
A Latin term meaning fat, thick, or stout.
This name
GourdonDerived from a place name in France, referring to a settlement located on a hill or fortified height.
also spelled
Gourdo
Gourdan
Gourdin
Goordon
Gordon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Nièvre, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Baudiau, Jacques-François, Histoire de la paroisse de Donzy et de ses environs, 1854
Grosley, Pierre-Jean, Mémoires historiques et critiques pour l'histoire de Troyes, 1774
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