A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giller family of Germany.
Reg. 9317 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la barre d'arg., ch. de trois roses de gu. C.: une femme iss., les cheveux épars, hab. d'azur, les mains appuyées sur les hanches. L.: d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1609
Where the Giller Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Giller arms are recorded
The Giller arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1609.
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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Giller 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 Giller Family in Germany
The surname Giller has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1609. The name is generally categorized as a topographic or occupational surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word "gille," which refers to a specific type of small valley or a narrow ravine. People living near such geographic features often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their local communities. During the seventeenth century, Bavaria was a landscape defined by small villages and agricultural life, and families like the Gillers were typically tied to the land through farming or local trade. As the family grew, they established themselves as part of the regional social fabric, moving through the changing political and religious landscape of the Holy Roman Empire while maintaining their distinct identity in the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gille
A diminutive form of the Germanic name Aegidius meaning young goat.
This name
GillerA patronymic surname denoting a descendant of someone named Gille or Giles.
also spelled
Giller
Geeler
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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
