A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilly family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0361 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à la bande de gu., acc. de deux lions du même.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Gilly Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gilly arms are recorded
The Gilly arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Gilly arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
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.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Gilly Family in France
The family name Gilly has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1725. The name likely evolved from regional naming traditions that favored short, melodic forms of older Germanic or Latin given names, which eventually became fixed as hereditary surnames. During the early eighteenth century, life in Bretagne was defined by a strong connection to the land and the local maritime economy. Families like the Gillys often lived in tight-knit rural communities where they contributed to the agricultural output of the province. As the name spread through the region, it became part of the local social fabric, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families across the French countryside during the pre-revolutionary era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. on a bend ar. cotised erm. a rose ppr. betw. two annulets of the field”
SuffolkHawkdon · Suffolk, c. 1620
Where the Gilly Arms Were Recorded
Suffolk
Map of England showing where the Gilly arms are recorded
The Gilly arms were recorded in Suffolk, c. 1620.
Suffolk was wool country, and its cloth towns were among the wealthiest in England. Clothier families bought manors with their profits, and holding a manor was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in France when the Gilly arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Suffolk.
Origin & History of the Gilly Family in England
The surname Gilly has deep roots in the English county of Suffolk, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a diminutive form of the name Giles, which was a popular choice in medieval England due to the influence of Saint Giles. During the 1600s, families in Suffolk often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where names were passed down through generations of farmers and tradespeople. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the rural economy and the development of parish life in East Anglia. By the time the first formal records appear in 1620, the Gilly name was already a recognized part of the regional identity, reflecting a long history of settlement in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aegidius
Latin name meaning young goat or shield bearer.
This name
GillyA French diminutive form derived from the saint's name Giles.
also spelled
Gilli
Jilly
Gyllie
Gillies
Gillis
Related arms
Gillivariant spelling
Gilyvariant spelling
Gilliesvariant spelling
Gillisvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives Départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Le Moyne de La Borderie, Arthur, Histoire de Bretagne, 1896
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
