A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallese family of France.
Reg. 9322 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
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. semé de bill. de sa.; au lion du même, br. sur le tout.”
ForezForez, c. 1663
Where the Gallese Arms Were Recorded
Forez
Map of France showing where the Gallese arms are recorded
The Gallese arms were recorded in Forez, c. 1663.
Forez was a small upland county in central France, thick with minor gentry holding modest estates. Its families were more numerous than wealthy, and even a small holding was enough for a shield of one's own.
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 Gallese 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 Forez.
Origin & History of the Gallese Family in France
The family name Gallese finds its historical roots in the lush, mountainous region of Forez in central France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents of this area, which was historically known for its strong ties to agriculture and the skilled metalworking trades. During the seventeenth century, the people of Forez lived in a society defined by local parishes and tight-knit rural communities. Families like the Gallese often played essential roles in the day-to-day life of their villages, contributing to the local economy through farming or craftsmanship. As the name appears in regional documents from this period, it suggests that the family was part of the steady, hardworking population that helped shape the identity of the Forez province during the transition into the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gallus
Latin term referring to a person from Gaul or a rooster.
This name
GalleseA habitational name for someone originating from the region of Gaul.
also spelled
Galless
Gallese
Gallesio
Gales
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Loire, Registres paroissiaux de la province de Forez, 1663
Fournier, Gabriel, Les villages et la vie rurale en France au XVIIe siècle, 1978
Gonon, Marguerite, La vie quotidienne en Forez au XVIIe siècle, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
