A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gastel family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6941 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
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. à trois chev. de sa.”
Franche-ComteFranche-Comte, c. 1663
Where the Gastel Arms Were Recorded
Franche-Comte
Map of France showing where the Gastel arms are recorded
The Gastel arms were recorded in Franche-Comte, c. 1663.
Franche-Comte sat between France and the Empire and changed hands more than once. Border families held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a practical thing rather than an ornament.
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 Gastel 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 Franche-Comte.
Origin & History of the Gastel Family in France
The family name Gastel has deep roots in the eastern region of France known as Franche-Comté. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this area as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Franche-Comté was a unique territory that transitioned from Spanish rule to French control under King Louis XIV. Families living in this region often worked in agriculture or local crafts, and they were shaped by the rugged landscape of the Jura Mountains. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects, reflecting the way people identified their families in small, tight-knit village communities. By maintaining a presence in this specific part of France, the early Gastel family became part of the long and complex history of a border region that served as a bridge between French and Germanic cultures.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. à la croix de Lorraine d'or, posée sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin., la croix cantonnée des lettres A M C E (amor meus crucifixus est) d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'azur au lion d'arg., cour. d'or, tenant entre ses pattes une étoile du même. Cq. cour. C.: une croix de Lorraine d'or, sommée d'une étoile du même; la croix placée entre un vol, l'aile dextre taillée d'azur sur arg., à la barre de sa., br. sur le taillé, et l'aile sen. tranchée d'or sur sa., à la bande d'azur, br. sur le tranché; la barre et la bande ch. chacune de deux étoiles d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur [V. Batbach de Gastel.]”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1644
Where the Gastel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gastel arms are recorded
The Gastel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1644.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany in this period.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in France when the Gastel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gastel Family in Germany
The surname Gastel finds its historical roots in the southern regions of Germany, particularly within the state of Bavaria. By the mid-17th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian landscape, specifically appearing in official documentation by 1644. The name itself is thought to be a variation of the Middle High German word "gast," which often referred to a stranger, a guest, or a traveler. In the social structure of the 1600s, such a name might have been given to someone who arrived in a new village from a distant region or to an innkeeper who provided hospitality to those passing through the area. As these families settled into their communities, they became part of the local agricultural and civic life that defined the Bavarian countryside during the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War. Over time, the Gastel name became a permanent fixture in parish registers and local tax records, marking the family as a stable part of the regional population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gast
A Germanic term referring to a guest or a stranger.
This name
GastelA locative surname for someone who lived at a guest house or inn.
also spelled
Gastil
Gastell
Related arms
Altenburgsame arms
Gästlvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Doubs, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Fohlen, Claude, Histoire de Besançon: des origines à la fin du XVIe siècle, 1964
Gauthier, Jules, Histoire de la Franche-Comté, 1908
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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
