A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gundling family of France.
Reg. 3847 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti de deux traits, coupé de deux autres, qui font neuf quartiers; à la champagne de sin.: au 1 d’azur à une couronne d’or; au 2 d’arg. à une tête d’aigle de sa., bq. d’or; au 3 d’or à une couronne de laurier de sin.; au 4 d’arg. à un demi-vol cont. de sa.; au 5 parti: a. palé de gu. et d’arg.; b. d’azur à neuf los. accolées et aboutées d’or, 3, 3 et 3; au 6 d’arg. à un demi-vol de sa.; au 7 d’or à un membre d’aigle de gu., la patte d’or; au 8 d’arg. à une queue d’aigle de sa.; au 9 d’or à un membre d’aigle cont. de gu., la patte d’or. C.: trois pl. d’aut. d’arg., sommées chacune d’une queue de paon au nat. L. d’arg., d’or, de gu. et de sa. T.: une Minerve, hab. de pourpre.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Gundling Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Gundling arms are recorded
The Gundling 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 Gundling 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 Gundling Family in France
The family name Gundling likely originates from Germanic roots, though its presence in the Brittany region of France by 1725 suggests a history of migration and adaptation. During the early eighteenth century, families often moved across European borders due to shifting political boundaries, trade opportunities, or religious changes. The name itself is thought to be a patronymic or a descriptive term, potentially linked to the Old High German word "gund," which refers to battle or conflict. As the family settled in Brittany, they would have integrated into the local culture while maintaining their distinct linguistic heritage. This transition period reflects a time when many families were establishing roots in new provinces, blending their ancestral traditions with the customs of their adopted homes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gund
Derived from the Germanic element meaning battle or war.
This name
GundlingA diminutive or patronymic form referring to a descendant of a warrior or fighter.
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
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil, 1725
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
legStrength and swiftness
