A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gilsdorf family of Germany.
Reg. 1532 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lambGentleness, patience and faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de gu. à la fasce d'arg.; au 2 d'azur à un loup ramp., ravissant un agneau, le tout au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: le loup, iss. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Gilsdorf Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Gilsdorf arms are recorded
The Gilsdorf arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats 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 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 Gilsdorf 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Gilsdorf Family in Germany
The family name Gilsdorf is a locational surname that originated in the historic region of Franconia, which is located in modern-day Germany. During the eighteenth century, people often adopted surnames based on the specific village or town where they lived, and records confirm that members of the Gilsdorf family were well-established in this area by 1765. The name itself likely derives from a combination of a personal name and the Germanic suffix dorf, which translates to village or settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or tradespeople who helped build and maintain these small rural communities. As the family grew, they remained deeply connected to the social and agricultural life of the Franconian landscape, which was defined by its rolling hills and strong local traditions. By studying these early regional records, we can see how the family name served as a permanent link to their specific geographic roots and their role in the development of their local home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisel-thorp
A pledge or hostage combined with a village or estate.
This name
GilsdorfRefers to a person who originated from a village belonging to a hostage or noble pledge.
also spelled
Geilsdorfe
Geilsdorpp
Geilsdor
Gilsdorf
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien (Franconian District Records)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lambGentleness, patience and faith
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wolfReward from long service and hard work
lambGentleness, patience and faith
