A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallery family of France.
Reg. 6207 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à trois goëlands de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gallery Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gallery arms are recorded
The Gallery arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Gallery 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gallery Family in France
The history of the Gallery family name is deeply rooted in the coastal region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a hub of maritime activity and trade, which likely influenced the lives and occupations of early family members. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or occupational descriptor, possibly linked to the architectural features of the medieval buildings or the bustling galleries of the local marketplaces where ancestors may have worked or lived. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local social fabric of the province, navigating the unique cultural and linguistic traditions of the Breton people. By maintaining a presence in this region for centuries, the family contributed to the long-standing history of a community defined by its strong connection to the land and the sea.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Galle
Derived from the Old French word for a cock or rooster.
This name
GalleryAn occupational or topographic name referring to someone who lived near a gallery or covered walkway.
also spelled
Gallerie
Galleri
Gallero
Galery
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Finistère, Série B (Archives de la juridiction de Brest)
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Série E (État civil et registres paroissiaux)
Gautier, Alain, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2010
Le Gall, Erwan, Une histoire de la Bretagne, 2015
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
