A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gallow family of Poland.
Reg. 6456 · Polish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
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)
“D'arg. au lion de gu., acc. de trois trèfles de sin., rangés en chef. Cq. cour. C.: un trèfle de sin., entre un vol de sa. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
CourlandCourland, c. 1772
Where the Gallow Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Gallow arms are recorded
The Gallow arms were recorded in Courland, c. 1772.
Courland was Baltic coast country held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations and served as officers abroad, and both landholding and service 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.
Region
Courland
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Gallow Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Gallow arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Courland.
Origin & History of the Gallow Family in Poland
The family name Gallow has deep roots in the historical region of Courland, which is located in modern-day Latvia. By 1772, records confirm that members of the family were established within this territory, a time when the area was undergoing significant political transitions under the influence of the Russian Empire. The name likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns found in the Baltic and Germanic populations living along the Baltic Sea. Families in this area often moved between rural estates and growing urban centers to work in trade or agriculture. Because Courland served as a crossroads for different cultures and languages, the name Gallow reflects the diverse heritage of the people who lived there during the eighteenth century. These early ancestors were part of a resilient community that maintained its identity despite the shifting borders and social changes that defined the history of the Baltic region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gałąź
A branch or bough of a tree.
This name
GallowA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a prominent tree branch.
also spelled
Galaud
Galaue
Galaux
Galo
Gallow
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dunsdorfs, Edgars. Der große schwedische Kataster in Livland 1681–1710. 1974
Latvian State Historical Archives (Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs), Courland Nobility and Land Records (Kurzemes bruņniecības un zemes arhīvs), Fond 214
Seraphim, Ernst. Geschichte von Livland, Estland und Kurland. 1894
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
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
lionCourage, strength and royalty
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
