A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gravier family of France.
Reg. 4809 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une colombe d'arg., bq. et m. de gu.; au chef du même, ch. d'un croiss. d'arg., entre deux molettes (8) d'or.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Gravier Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Gravier arms are recorded
The Gravier arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Gravier 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Gravier Family in France
The family name Gravier finds its roots in the French language, where it is derived from the word grave, meaning gravel or a sandy riverbank. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name likely lived near a stony stream or worked as laborers on riverbeds. By the year 1663, historical records confirm that the Gravier family was well-established in the Guyenne region of southwestern France. This area was a historic province known for its vineyards and its proximity to the Garonne River, which provided a fertile landscape for families to settle and grow. As the family lived in this region during the seventeenth century, they were part of a society deeply connected to the land and the agricultural traditions of the French countryside. Over time, the name spread as family members moved from these rural riverbanks to participate in the broader development of French society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
grave
A gravelly or sandy place or a river bank.
This name
GravierAn occupational name for someone who lived near a gravel pit or river bank.
also spelled
Gravier
Graverre
Gravair
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
Archives départementales de la Gironde. Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux de la province de Guyenne. 1663
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
