A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallen family of Denmark.
Reg. 0267 · Danish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu.; à un chicot de sin., posé en pal, poussant quatre feuilles du même, br. sur le tout.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Gallen Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Gallen arms are recorded
The Gallen arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Gallen arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Gallen Family in Denmark
The family name Gallen has deep roots in the historical landscape of Denmark, with documented evidence placing members of the family on the island of Sjælland as early as 1722. During this period, the region was characterized by a rigid social structure where most people lived in rural farming communities and were tied to the land through the manorial system. Families often identified themselves by their local parish or their father’s given name, but the emergence of a consistent surname like Gallen suggests that these ancestors were likely part of an established lineage or a specific trade group within the local population. Life on Sjælland in the early 18th century required great resilience, as the inhabitants navigated shifting agricultural policies and the influence of the Danish monarchy. By settling in this central part of Denmark, the early Gallen family became part of the long-standing cultural fabric of the island, contributing to the local history that shaped the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gallus
Latin term meaning a rooster or a person from Gaul.
This name
GallenA habitational name derived from the town of St. Gallen or a nickname relating to a rooster.
also spelled
Gallen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Sjælland)
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Folketællinger og Jordebøger (Census records and land registers)
Trap, J.P., Statistisk-topographisk Beskrivelse af Kongeriget Danmark, 1858
Larsen, Helge, Danske Slægtsnavne: En historisk oversigt, 1974
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
