A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gelin family of France.
Reg. 0165 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à six merlettes de sa.”
BretagneBretagne, c. 1663
Where the Gelin Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gelin arms are recorded
The Gelin arms were recorded in Bretagne, c. 1663.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 Gelin 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 Bretagne.
Origin & History of the Gelin Family in France
The surname Gelin finds its deep roots in the historical region of Brittany, France, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1663. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname or a variation of personal names common in the medieval period, often linked to the Old French word for a young bird or a specific type of plant. Families bearing this name during the seventeenth century were typically part of the rural population, working as skilled farmers or craftsmen within the tight-knit parish communities of the Breton countryside. Because Brittany maintained a distinct cultural identity and language during this era, the Gelin family likely lived in a society shaped by strong local traditions and a deep connection to the land. Over time, the name spread from these small village settlements as younger generations moved to nearby towns to seek new opportunities in trade and local administration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gel
Derived from the Germanic root meaning frost or cold.
This name
GelinA diminutive form often used as a nickname for someone with a cold temperament or pale complexion.
also spelled
Gellin
Geline
Gelin-de
Zhelin
Related arms
Gellinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1663
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
