Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
Gabaldon Coat of Arms / Gabaldon Family CrestThe surname of GABALDON is a Catalan habitation name from GAVAUDAN in South France. There is also a place of the name in the province of Cuenca, so called from the Gallo-Roman personal name GABALDUS (of uncertain meaning) + the Celtic placename DUN meaning hill fort settlement. The name is also spelt GAVALDA, GAVALDO, GABALDIANI and GABALDA. French, or rather Norman French, was the language of the aristocracy and the upper classes in England at the time fixed surnames were being developed, it is therefore not surprising that many of our well-known family names are derived from French words. Originally only Christian or personal names were used, and although a few came into being during the 10th century, surnames were not widely used until much later, when people began to realize the prestige of having a second name. America was colonized by peoples from all over the world in a very short period of time, and mostly, in the case of French immigrants they have stayed together in Louisiana. Of the early immigrants to America the French have fared the worst in respect of their names, chiefly because of the difficulties experienced by the Americans in pronouncing them correctly. Many have been translated into English names. A notable member of the name was the Philippine Commander, Isauro GABANLDON, who was born in San Isidro in 1875. He was instrumental in the transfer of power to the United States in February 1920. In the Middle Ages the Herald (old French herault) was an officer whose duty it was to proclaim war or peace, carry challenges to battle and messages between sovereigns; nowadays war or peace is still proclaimed by the heralds, but their chief duty as court functionaries is to superintend state ceremonies, such as coronations, installations, and to grant arms. Edward III (1327-1377) appointed two heraldic kings-at-arms for south and north, England in 1340. The English College of Heralds was incorporated by Richard III in 1483-84. |
