A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gals family of France.
Reg. 0000 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un coq hardi d'or, crêté et barbé de gu.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois coquilles du même.”
GuyenneGuyenne, c. 1663
Where the Gals Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Gals arms are recorded
The Gals arms were recorded in Guyenne, c. 1663.
Guyenne was the great wine country of south-western France, shipping claret to England for centuries. The trade made merchant families rich, they bought vineyards and estates with the money, and land of that kind brought arms with it.
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 Gals 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 Guyenne.
Origin & History of the Gals Family in France
The family name Gals traces its roots to the historic region of Guyenne in southwestern France. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were well-established within this territory. During the seventeenth century, Guyenne was a vibrant area defined by its agricultural output and its proximity to the Atlantic trade routes. Families living in this region often worked in viticulture or local administration, as the area was famous for its vineyards and bustling market towns. The name likely evolved from local linguistic patterns common to the Gascon dialect spoken in the region at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the province, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the major political upheavals of the following century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gallus
Latin term meaning a rooster or a person from Gaul.
This name
GalsA habitational name for someone originating from the region of Gaul or a nickname denoting a rooster.
also spelled
Gals
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Série E, État civil et registres paroissiaux
Boutruche, Robert, Une société provinciale en lutte contre le régime féodal: L'alleu en Bordelais et en Bazadais du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, 1963
Papy, Michel, La vie quotidienne en Guyenne au XVIIe siècle, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
