A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the van Gils family of Belgium.
Reg. 5271 · Belgian, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 coupé: a. de gu. à une croix de Jérusalem d'arg.; b. d'arg. à trois épis effeuillés de sin., posés chacun en bande, rangés en barre; au 2 d'or à un paon rouant au nat.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
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Map of Belgium showing where the van Gils arms are recorded
The van Gils 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 van Gils 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 van Gils Family in Belgium
The family name van Gils originates from the historic Duchy of Brabant, a region that spans parts of the modern-day Netherlands and Belgium. The name is a patronymic, which means it was formed by taking the first name of an ancestor and adding a prefix to show descent. In this case, the name is derived from Gielis, which is a traditional Dutch form of the name Giles. By the year 1737, records confirm that members of the van Gils family were well-established residents within this territory. During this period, families in Brabant were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trades, and their names served as a way to identify their lineage within their specific village communities. As the family grew, they remained deeply connected to the cultural and social life of the Brabant region, helping to preserve their unique identity through generations of local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Giles
Derived from the Greek name Aegidius meaning young goat or shield-bearer.
This name
van GilsA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Giles or a diminutive of Egidius.
also spelled
van Gilse
van Gilsen
van Gilss
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Damen, Mario, Op zoek naar de Brabantse adel: de adel in de Noord-Brabantse steden in de late middeleeuwen, 2005
Noord-Brabants Archief, Doop-, trouw- en begraafregisters (DTB) van Noord-Brabant, 1737
Van Driel, A., Naamkunde en familienamen in de Meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch, 1992
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
