A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guilbert family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 6303 · Belgian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à trois maillets de gu.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu.; à la bande d'arg., br. sur le lion et ch. de trois lions de gu.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Guilbert Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Guilbert arms are recorded
The Guilbert arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Guilbert 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 Brabant.
Origin & History of the Guilbert Family in Belgium
The family name Guilbert has deep roots in the historical region of Brabant, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1737. The name itself is of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient name Willibert, which combines the words for "will" or "desire" and "bright" or "famous." In the eighteenth century, Brabant was a vibrant center of trade and agriculture under the rule of the Austrian Netherlands. Families like the Guilberts often lived in rural communities or small market towns where they worked as skilled laborers or farmers. Because the region was a crossroads for many different cultures, the name likely evolved through local dialects as it was passed down through generations. By the mid-1700s, the Guilbert family was part of the established social fabric of the area, contributing to the local economy and community life during a time of significant transition in Belgian history.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. au chev. failli à sen. d'or, acc. en chef de trois molettes du même et en p. d'un lacs d'amour d'arg.”
NormandieNormandie, c. 1663
Where the Guilbert Arms Were Recorded
Normandie
Map of France showing where the Guilbert arms are recorded
The Guilbert arms were recorded in Normandie, c. 1663.
Normandie held a dense crowd of knightly families on some of the best farmland in France. Its men had fought and settled abroad for generations, and a family that sent sons to war needed a shield they could be recognised by.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Belgium when the Guilbert 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 Normandie.
Origin & History of the Guilbert Family in France
The surname Guilbert finds its roots in the ancient Germanic name Willibraht, which combines the elements for will and bright. Over many centuries, this name evolved through the French language to become a common identifier for families across the northern regions. By the time records place the family in Normandy during the mid-seventeenth century, the name was already well-established within the local social fabric. Families living in Normandy in 1663 often worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the agricultural and maritime strength of the province. During this period, the region was a bustling hub of activity where families like the Guilberts helped shape the local community through their daily labor and participation in parish life. This history reflects a long tradition of settlement in the French countryside, where the name was passed down through generations as a marker of their regional identity.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à un perroquet de sin., coll. de gu., posé sur un tertre du sec., et tenant en son bec un trèfle aussi de sin. C.: le perroquet. L.: d'or et de sin”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Guilbert Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Guilbert arms are recorded
The Guilbert arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Belgium when the Guilbert 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Guilbert Family in Germany
The name Guilbert traces its roots back to ancient Germanic origins, where it was composed of the elements "wil," meaning desire or will, and "berht," meaning bright or famous. While the name is often associated with French regions, its presence in Germany became well-established as families moved across borders for trade and craftsmanship. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Guilbert family had firmly integrated into the social fabric of Nuremberg. In 1765, this city was a bustling center of commerce and innovation, providing a stable environment for families to build their livelihoods. Living in Nuremberg during this era meant being part of a society that valued skilled labor and civic participation. The family members who resided there were likely involved in the city's famous tradition of metalworking or mercantile activities, which defined the local economy at the time. Their presence in such a prominent urban center suggests that they were active contributors to the growth and daily life of the region during the late Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wigilbert
Derived from Germanic elements meaning battle and bright or famous.
This name
GuilbertA name signifying a bright or illustrious warrior or battle-renowned individual.
also spelled
Guilber
Guilbart
Guilbertet
Geelber
Gilbert
Related arms
Guillebertvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Parochieregisters van Brabant
State Archives in Belgium (Rijksarchief te België), Burgerlijke Stand van de provincie Brabant
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 2003
Gysseling, Maurits, Toponymisch woordenboek van België, Nederland, Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en West-Duitsland, 1960
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