A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gale family of England.
Reg. 0305 · English, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a fesse ar. fretty of the field”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1620
Where the Gale Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Gale arms are recorded
The Gale arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Gale arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Gale Family in England
The surname Gale has deep roots in the English language, likely originating as a descriptive nickname for a person with a cheerful or lively personality. The name is derived from the Old English word "gal," which meant merry or lighthearted. By the early 17th century, the family was well-established in the rugged landscape of Cornwall. Records confirm that members of the Gale family were present in this region by 1620, living among the coastal communities and mining towns that defined the area at the time. During this period, families often lived in small, tight-knit parishes where they worked as farmers, tradesmen, or mariners. Because Cornwall was somewhat isolated from the rest of England by geography, the Gale family likely maintained strong local ties and traditions that helped them thrive in the region for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gale
Derived from the Old Norse word galen meaning lively or cheerful.
This name
GaleA topographic name for someone living near a gale or a nickname for a boisterous person.
also spelled
Gaile
Gayle
Gail
Related arms
Gealevariant spelling
Lowtherrecorded with Gale, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fretPersuasion, and the net that holds
