A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gehl family of Germany.
Reg. 0495 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à une branche de rosier de sin., posée en barre, fleurie de trois roses de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Gehl Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Gehl arms are recorded
The Gehl arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Gehl 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Gehl Family in Germany
The surname Gehl is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. In Middle High German, the term *gel* or *gehl* referred to the color yellow or blonde, suggesting that the name was originally bestowed upon an ancestor known for their fair hair or a bright complexion. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the historical region of Silesia. Records confirm that members of the Gehl family were living in this area by 1765, a time when Silesia was undergoing significant social and administrative changes under Prussian rule. During this era, families often settled in rural or semi-urban communities where they contributed to the local agricultural and artisanal economy, helping to shape the cultural landscape of the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gel
Middle High German term referring to the color yellow.
This name
GehlA descriptive nickname for a person with blond hair or a pale complexion.
also spelled
Gehlere
Gehlerr
Gehl
Geler
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Akta stanu cywilnego i księgi metrykalne, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
branchPeace, and new growth
branchPeace, and new growth
