A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giel family of Germany.
Reg. 3004 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“de gu., équipollés à quatre d'arg.; au chef d'arg. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1º trois pl. d'aut. de sa.; 2º une queue de paon au nat.; 3º un vol à l'antique aux armes de l'écu.”
Germanyc. 1725
Where the Giel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Giel arms are recorded
The Giel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Giel 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Giel Family in Germany
The family name Giel has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1725. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of a longer Germanic given name, such as Gilbert or Giselbert. In the Bavarian dialect of the eighteenth century, names often evolved based on how they sounded in daily conversation rather than strict spelling rules. Families like the Giels were typically part of the rural or artisan classes, living in small villages where they worked as farmers or craftsmen. Because Bavaria was a collection of smaller territories and local jurisdictions during this time, the family likely remained in the same general area for generations, deeply connected to the local church and community life. These early ancestors helped shape the cultural identity of their home region through their daily labor and their participation in local village traditions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Giles
Derived from the Greek word aigidion meaning young goat or shield.
This name
GielA German diminutive form of the name Aegidius, traditionally associated with protection or a young goat.
also spelled
Giel von Gielsberg
Gieler von Gielsberg
Gielberg
Geel de Geelsberg
Giel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Pfarrbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising
Kohlheim, Rosa and Kohlheim, Volker, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
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chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
