A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallier family of France.
Reg. 3442 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or, crêté, bq., barbé et m. de gu., acc. en chef de deux étoiles du sec. et en p. d'un croiss. d'arg.”
LyonnaisLyonnais, c. 1663
Where the Gallier Arms Were Recorded
Lyonnais
Map of France showing where the Gallier arms are recorded
The Gallier arms were recorded in Lyonnais, c. 1663.
Lyonnais centred on Lyon, one of the great banking and silk towns of France. Money made in the city bought estates in the countryside around it, and those estates brought arms with them.
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 Gallier 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 Lyonnais.
Origin & History of the Gallier Family in France
The family name Gallier has deep roots in the historical province of Lyonnais, where members of the family were documented as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this region was a vital center for trade and silk production, which likely shaped the daily lives and occupations of early ancestors. The name itself is thought to be a variation of terms related to the Gaulish people, reflecting a long connection to the land and the local culture of eastern France. Families living in the Lyonnais area during this period often held roles in local agriculture or craftsmanship, contributing to the steady growth of the region. By settling in this specific part of the country, the early Gallier family became part of a long tradition of provincial life that defined rural and urban society in pre-revolutionary France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gallus
Latin term referring to a person from Gaul or a rooster.
This name
GallierAn occupational or habitational name for someone originating from the Gaul region or associated with roosters.
also spelled
Gallyer
Galyay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Rhône, Registres paroissiaux de l'état civil, 1663
Boulanger, A., Histoire de la province du Lyonnais, 1924
Forest, J., Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille de France, 1955
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