A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gabler family of Germany.
Reg. 0672 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tranché, d'or à une rose de gu., sur arg. à une rose pareille; à la bande d'azur, br. sur le tranché et ch. d'une fourche d'or, les dents en haut. Cq. cour. C.: une panthère iss. de gu., vomissant des flammes, tenant de ses pattes la fourche en pal, les dents en bas. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1631
Where the Gabler Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gabler arms are recorded
The Gabler arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1631.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Gabler arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gabler Family in Germany
The surname Gabler originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe as a descriptive occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "gabel," which refers to a fork or a pitchfork. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely farmers or laborers who used such tools in their daily work. By the time records place the family in Bavaria in 1631, the name had become firmly established as a hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period, the region was deeply affected by the Thirty Years' War, which caused significant social upheaval and migration. Families like the Gablers often lived in rural villages where they maintained small plots of land or served as skilled tradespeople. Over time, the name spread from its Bavarian roots to other parts of the German-speaking world as descendants moved to find new opportunities in growing towns and cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gabel
A fork or a pitchfork used in agricultural labor.
This name
GablerAn occupational surname for a maker or user of forks.
also spelled
Gable
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
