A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gayling family of France.
Reg. 6995 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 une ramure de cerf d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu.”
AlsaceBade · Alsace, c. 1773
Where the Gayling Arms Were Recorded
Alsace
Map of France showing where the Gayling arms are recorded
The Gayling arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1773.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their own.
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 XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Gayling 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 Alsace.
Origin & History of the Gayling Family in France
The family name Gayling has deep roots in the Alsace region, a territory known for its unique blend of French and German cultural influences. By 1773, records confirm that members of the Gayling family were well-established residents within this area. During the eighteenth century, Alsace was a crossroads for trade and agriculture, which likely shaped the daily lives of those bearing the name. Families in this region often lived in small, tightly knit villages where they worked as skilled craftsmen or farmers. The name itself likely evolved from local dialects spoken in the Rhine Valley, reflecting the linguistic shifts common to the borderlands of Europe. Over time, the Gayling family became part of the enduring social fabric of Alsace, contributing to the local history of a region that frequently changed political hands while maintaining its own distinct identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gail
Derived from the Old High German word for lively or cheerful.
This name
GaylingA locative or descriptive surname indicating a person who is jovial, spirited, or lighthearted.
also spelled
Gaylinge d'Altheim
Gayling d'Altheime
Gayling d'Alth
Gayling Daltime
Gayling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Boehler, Jean-Michel, Une société rurale en milieu rhénan : la paysannerie de la plaine d'Alsace (1648-1789), 1994
Livet, Georges, L'Alsace et le Rhin : de 1648 à 1789, 1981
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
