Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. en p. d'un pélican avec ses petits d'arg.; au chef d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Klages family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. en p. d'un pélican avec ses petits d'arg.; au chef d'or.”

The Klages arms were recorded in Toulouse, c. 1663.
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.
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.
The surname Klages is primarily rooted in Northern Germany, where it evolved as a patronymic name derived from the given name Klaus, which is a shortened form of Nicholas. During the seventeenth century, the family expanded its reach across Europe, as evidenced by records confirming that members of the Klages family were settled in the French city of Toulouse by 1663. This migration likely occurred during a period of significant movement for skilled tradespeople and merchants who traveled between the German territories and the major urban centers of France. While the name remained most common in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia, the presence of the family in Toulouse highlights their early integration into the social and economic fabric of diverse European regions. This movement suggests that the family was mobile and adapted well to the changing political and cultural landscapes of the era.
A shortened form of the Greek name Nikolaos meaning victory of people.
