Although this slightly transposed name is Norman-French, the origin is Germanic pre 8th century and either derives from 'Gellaere' - a word meaning 'to shout' and is specifically job descriptive for 'the town crier' or from 'Geler', a locational word given to 'marsh land' and also of German origin. The name is first recorded heraldically from the Department of Bresse, the Coat of Arms being a paly of red and silver, charged with a blue bend, the latter signifying military command The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jean de la Geliere which was dated C. 1680 the Province of Burgundy during the reign of King Louis XIV of France 1643-1715 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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