A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gillard family of Germany.
Reg. 7788 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. au lion léopardé de gu.; au 2 de gu. à quatre burèles vivrées d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1757
Where the Gillard Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gillard arms are recorded
The Gillard arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1757.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Gillard 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gillard Family in Germany
The surname Gillard has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where family members were documented as early as 1757. The name likely evolved from regional Germanic naming traditions and was often associated with families living in rural or agricultural communities during the eighteenth century. As was common for the era, individuals with this name were frequently recorded in local parish registers that tracked baptisms, marriages, and deaths. These records suggest that the early Gillard family lived through a period of significant social change in Southern Germany. Over time, the family name spread across borders as people moved in search of new opportunities, yet the initial presence in Bavaria remains a defining chapter in the family history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisilhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning pledge or hostage and brave or hardy.
This name
GillardA patronymic surname signifying a descendant of one who possessed a brave or strong pledge.
also spelled
Gillart
Gyllard
Jilard
Gillerd
Related arms
Gillartvariant spelling
Gilliardvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising, 1757
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Handbuch der bayerischen Geschichte, 1971
Kohl, Wilhelm, Westfälische Geschichte, 1983
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
