A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gillig family of Germany.
Reg. 1748 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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. à la figure allégorique de l'Espérance, sous les traits d'une femme, hab. d'une tunique d'arg. et d'une jupe d'azur, les bras nus, la main dextre appuyée sur une ancre d'arg.; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. C.: un vol coupé, à dextre d'azur sur arg., à sen. d'arg. sur gu. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Gillig Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Gillig arms are recorded
The Gillig arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Gillig 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 Gillig Family in Germany
The family name Gillig is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely emerging as a diminutive form of the name Aegidius. During the eighteenth century, the name was firmly established in the bustling imperial city of Nuremberg, which served as a major hub for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. By 1765, records indicate that family members were active participants in the social and economic life of this region. Nuremberg was known for its strict guild systems and its reputation for fine metalwork and clockmaking, suggesting that early ancestors were likely integrated into the skilled artisan class that defined the city. As the family navigated the urban landscape of Bavaria, they contributed to the local history of a city that was transitioning from a medieval center of commerce into a modern industrial power.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gilo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for pledge or hostage.
This name
GilligA diminutive form indicating a descendant or follower of a person named Gilo.
also spelled
Gillige
Gilligh
Gilligg
Gilig
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Reichsstadt Nürnberg, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
