A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Galin family of France.
Reg. 8033 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un coq d'arg., crêté et barbé de gu.”
DauphineDauphine, c. 1663
Where the Galin Arms Were Recorded
Dauphine
Map of France showing where the Galin arms are recorded
The Galin arms were recorded in Dauphine, c. 1663.
Dauphine lay in the mountains of south-eastern France, a country of small estates and scattered valleys. Its gentry were many and mostly modest, and even a small landholding was enough to justify arms.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Galin arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
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.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Dauphine.
Origin & History of the Galin Family in France
The family name Galin traces its roots to the historic Dauphiné region of southeastern France, where records confirm the presence of family members by 1663. During the seventeenth century, this mountainous area was a center for agricultural development and local trade, which likely shaped the daily lives of the early Galin families. The name itself is thought to be a variation of older regional terms, possibly linked to the Provençal word for a rooster or a diminutive form of names common in the Occitan-speaking territories. As residents of the Dauphiné, these early ancestors lived through a period of significant social change under the French monarchy. They were part of a resilient population that maintained strong community ties within the rugged valleys of the Alps. Over time, the family name became firmly established in local parish registers, marking their long-standing connection to the landscape and culture of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gale
Old French word for joy or merriment.
This name
GalinA surname derived from a nickname for a cheerful or jovial person.
also spelled
Galyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de l'Isère, Collection de l'état civil de l'Ancien Régime
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Marie-Thérèse Lorcin, Vivre et mourir en Forez à la fin du Moyen Âge, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
