A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gfeller family of Germany.
Reg. 0259 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé d'or sur arg.; à la fasce de sa., br. sur le coupé. C.: un vol à l'antique aux armes de l'ecu, soutenu d'un coussin de sa., houppé d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Gfeller Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Gfeller arms are recorded
The Gfeller arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with arms.
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 Gfeller 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Gfeller Family in Germany
The family name Gfeller is deeply rooted in the Alpine regions of German-speaking Europe, specifically within the historic territories of Swabia and the Swiss cantons. The name itself is topographical, derived from the Middle High German word "Gfell," which refers to a mountain pasture, a steep slope, or a clearing in a forest. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or herdsmen who lived and worked on the rugged terrain of the highlands. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in Swabia, a region known for its complex network of small villages and agricultural communities. These early Gfellers were part of a traditional society where identity was closely tied to the specific landscape they cultivated. Over generations, the family name became a way to identify these individuals based on the unique geography of their mountain homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gfell
A mountain pasture or a cleared area on a mountain slope.
This name
GfellerRefers to a person who lived on or worked a mountain pasture.
also spelled
Gfeler
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Taufrodel und Eherodel der Kirchgemeinden
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
