Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à un cerf élancé de gu., soutenu d'une terrasse de sa.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gillo family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à un cerf élancé de gu., soutenu d'une terrasse de sa.”
The Gillo arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The family name Gillo has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, France, where records confirm members of the family were established as early as 1663. During the seventeenth century, Bretagne was a distinct province with its own unique customs and language, often separating it from the rest of the French kingdom. Families living in this coastal area were frequently involved in maritime trade, agriculture, or local administration, which helped them build stable lives within their rural parishes. The name itself likely evolved from regional naming traditions or local nicknames common to the Breton people during that era. By maintaining a presence in the region during the mid-1600s, the early Gillo family lived through a time of significant cultural identity for Bretagne, contributing to the local community as the province navigated its relationship with the central French government.
Latin name derived from Greek meaning shield or protection.
