A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gonsales family of Belgium.
Reg. 7961 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à trois fasces de gu.; au 2 d'or à un arbre de sin., mouv. de la p., au 3 d'or à une rose de gu., bout. d'or, barbée de sin.; au 4 d'arg. à trois fasces ondées d'azur.”
HainautHainaut, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the Gonsales arms are recorded
The Gonsales arms were recorded in Hainaut, c. 1737.
Hainaut sat on the border between France and the Low Countries and was fought over for centuries. Families there held their land under arms and expected to defend it, so a shield was a working thing.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Belgium when the Gonsales arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hainaut.
Origin & History of the Gonsales Family in Belgium
The surname Gonsales originates from the medieval Iberian Peninsula, where it functioned as a patronymic name meaning son of Gonzalo. The root name Gonzalo is derived from the Germanic elements gunth, meaning war, and salv, meaning battle or elf. As the name spread across Europe through trade, military service, and migration, it became established in various regions far from its Spanish origins. By 1737, records confirm that members of the family were settled in the County of Hainaut, a historical region that now spans parts of modern-day Belgium and France. During this period, the family likely integrated into the local social and economic structures of the Low Countries, transitioning from their southern roots to become part of the diverse population living under the administration of the Austrian Netherlands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gundisalvus
Derived from the Germanic elements for battle and war.
This name
GonsalesA patronymic surname signifying son of the individual who is ready for battle.
also spelled
Gonsales
Gonzalez
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Joseph Mansion, Oud-Gentsche Naamkunde, 1924
State Archives in Belgium (Archives de l'État en Belgique), Registres paroissiaux du Hainaut, 1737
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
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
