A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gebel family of Austria.
Reg. 0814 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
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 un croiss. tourné d'arg., accosté de deux flèches du même, les pointes en bas. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux d'azur.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
Where the Gebel Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Gebel arms are recorded
The Gebel arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Gebel Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Gebel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Galicia.
Origin & History of the Gebel Family in Austria
The surname Gebel is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Central Europe, particularly within the region of Galicia. By 1772, when the area was incorporated into the Austrian Empire following the First Partition of Poland, families bearing this name were already established as part of the local population. The name itself is often associated with the German word *Giebel*, which refers to the gable or the triangular part of a house roof. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have been builders, carpenters, or residents of a home with a distinct architectural feature. As the Gebel family lived through the shifting borders and cultural transitions of the Galician territory, they became part of a diverse society that blended Germanic and Slavic influences. Their presence in official records from the late eighteenth century highlights their integration into the administrative systems of the time, marking the beginning of their documented history in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gabel
A fork or a mountain ridge shaped like a fork.
This name
GebelAn occupational name for a fork maker or a topographic name for someone living near a mountain fork.
also spelled
Gebell
Gebele
Gebels
Related arms
Geblvariant spelling
Göbelvariant spelling
Goebelvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archives in Przemyśl (Archiwum Państwowe w Przemyślu), Galician Land Records (Akta ziemskie galicyjskie)
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv (Державний архів Львівської області), Austrian Cadastral Surveys of Galicia (Kataster gruntowy Galicji)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
