A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallas family of Netherlands.
Reg. 9028 · Dutch, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De sin. à trois faucons d'arg. S.: deux faucons d'arg.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Gallas Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Gallas arms are recorded
The Gallas arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Gallas Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Gallas arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Gallas Family in Netherlands
The surname Gallas carries a rich history that likely stems from regional naming traditions in Northern Europe. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the Gallas family were established in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. During this period, the Napoleonic era forced many families to adopt permanent, standardized surnames for government census and tax purposes. The name itself is often linked to the historical term for people of Celtic or Gaulish origin, which was used in various Germanic dialects to describe outsiders or travelers. As the family settled in the unique landscape of Friesland, they became part of a society defined by its strong maritime culture and independent agricultural traditions. Over time, the family name became a fixed identifier that connected these early ancestors to the specific social and legal shifts occurring across the Dutch provinces in 1815.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gallus
Latin term meaning a rooster or a person from Gaul.
This name
GallasA habitational name for someone originating from the region of Gaul or France.
also spelled
Gallass
Gallasse
Gallasso
Galas
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland (1811–1950)
Van der Meer, G., Friese familienamen: Een overzicht van de herkomst en verspreiding, 1995
Nederlandse Familienamenbank, Meertens Instituut, 2010
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
