A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Galz family of France.
Reg. 4707 · 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 Galz Arms Were Recorded
Guyenne
Map of France showing where the Galz arms are recorded
The Galz 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 Galz 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 Galz Family in France
The family name Galz traces its historical roots to the region of Guyenne in southwestern France, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, this area was a vibrant center of agricultural and viticultural life, shaped by the influence of the Garonne River and the proximity to the port of Bordeaux. Families living in Guyenne at this time were often deeply connected to the land, working as skilled farmers or local tradespeople who helped sustain the regional economy. The name likely emerged from these rural communities, reflecting the linguistic patterns and local dialects common to the Gascony region. As the family established their life in this historic province, they became part of the social fabric that defined the rural landscape of pre-revolutionary France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gals
Derived from the Germanic word for a stranger or foreigner.
This name
GalzA locative or descriptive surname likely referring to an individual of foreign origin.
also spelled
Gals
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales de la Gironde, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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 rurale 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
