A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gisler family of Germany.
Reg. 9640 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'arg. et de sa.; au chev. de l'un en l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: le chev.; entre deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et de sa.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Gisler Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Gisler arms are recorded
The Gisler arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Gisler 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Gisler Family in Germany
The family name Gisler has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. The name is believed to originate from the Old High German word gisil, which translates to a hostage or a noble pledge. In medieval times, this term was often used to describe a person of high social standing who was given as a guarantee of peace or a promise between two powerful families. As surnames became more common throughout Europe, the name evolved to identify individuals who lived in specific communities or served in roles associated with these historical pledges. By the mid-18th century, the Gisler family had established themselves within the complex social landscape of Silesia, a region known for its shifting borders and diverse cultural influences between Prussia and the Austrian Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisel
Derived from the Germanic word for a hostage or noble pledge.
This name
GislerRefers to a descendant or follower of a person named Gisel.
also spelled
Geissler
Giesler
Gisler
Geiseler
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Akta stanu cywilnego i księgi metrykalne, 1765
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