A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gozo family of France.
Reg. 0081 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la bande d'arg., bordée d'azur; à la bord. comp. d'arg. et de gu. D.: LE VAINQUEUR DU DRAGON; ou, DRACONIS EXTINCTOR [Comp. Montcalm de Gozon.]”
RouergueRouergue, c. 1663
Where the Gozo Arms Were Recorded
Rouergue
Map of France showing where the Gozo arms are recorded
The Gozo arms were recorded in Rouergue, c. 1663.
Rouergue was high, stony country in southern France, with more castles than money. Its families were numerous and modest, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Gozo 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 Rouergue.
Origin & History of the Gozo Family in France
The family name Gozo finds its historical roots in the rugged landscape of the Rouergue region in southern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of this family were already established within this area, which was known for its deep valleys and strong agricultural traditions. The name likely developed as a way to identify individuals based on their local origins or specific family traits during a time when surnames were becoming more permanent in French society. Families in this region often lived in small, tight-knit communities where they worked the land and participated in the local parish life. Over the following generations, the family remained connected to the cultural identity of the Aveyron department, maintaining their presence in the region as they navigated the social and economic changes of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaudium
Latin term meaning joy, gladness, or delight.
This name
GozoA locational or descriptive surname derived from the concept of joy or a joyful place.
also spelled
Gozo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Aveyron, Registres paroissiaux de l'ancien diocèse de Rodez, 1663
Balsan, Louis, L'histoire du Rouergue, 1970
Delmas, Jean, Histoire du Rouergue, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
