A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gelle family of France.
Reg. 4350 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. au saut. de sa., ch. de cinq los. d'or.”
Francec. 1663
Where the Gelle Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gelle arms are recorded
The Gelle arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
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 Gelle 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 France.
Origin & History of the Gelle Family in France
The family name Gelle has deep roots in the Brittany region of France, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1663. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscape and the social structures of the province. Families with this surname often lived in small agricultural communities where they worked the land or engaged in local trades. Because Brittany maintained a distinct cultural identity separate from the rest of France, the Gelle family likely participated in the unique customs and traditions that defined the region during the seventeenth century. As the family grew, they became part of the local parish records that tracked births, marriages, and deaths, which helped preserve their history within the coastal villages of western France.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gilles
Derived from the Greek name Aegidius meaning young goat or shield-bearer.
This name
GelleA patronymic surname originating from the personal name Gilles, common in medieval France.
also spelled
Gellee
Gellée-de
Zhel
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
Galliou, Patrick, Histoire de la Bretagne, 2005
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
