A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gail family of Germany.
Reg. 5669 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à deux roses accostées de gu., barbées de sin.; au 2 d'azur à une fleur-de-lis de gu. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu. L. d'or et d'azur. - (Barons du Royaume de Westphalie, 10 juillet 1813; conf. dudit titre au grand-duché d'Oldenbourg, 22 fév. 1812.) Coupé: au 1 d'or à deux roses accostées de gu., barbées de sin.; au 2 d'azur à une fleur-de-lis partie d'or et de gu. Cq. cour. C.: la fleur-de-lis, entre un vol coupé d'or sur azur, l'or de chaque aile ch. des deux roses de l'écu. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
AlsaceOldenbourg · Alsace, c. 1532
Where the Gail Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Gail arms are recorded
The Gail arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1532.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their 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 Germany in this period.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Germany when the Gail 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 Alsace.
Origin & History of the Gail Family in Germany
The family name Gail has deep roots in the Alsace region, where historical records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1532. During this period, Alsace was a cultural crossroads between Germanic and French influences, which shaped the development of local surnames. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a shortened form of a longer Germanic given name, reflecting the naming customs common in the Upper Rhine area during the sixteenth century. Families living in this region at the time were often involved in agriculture, trade, or local craftsmanship, which allowed them to establish stable communities over many generations. By settling in this specific part of Europe, the early Gail family became part of a complex social landscape that survived the religious and political shifts of the Renaissance era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gailo
Derived from the Old High German word for merry or lively.
This name
GailA surname historically used as a nickname for a cheerful or jovial person.
also spelled
Gail
Gale
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Gall, Franz, Österreichische Wappenkunde: Handbuch der Wappenwissenschaft, 1977
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
