A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gädda family of Sweden.
Reg. 9664 · Swedish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un poisson d'azur, posé en bande. Cq. cour. C.: un poisson d'azur, posé en pal; entre deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Swedenc. 1705
Where the Gädda Arms Were Recorded
Stockholm
Map of Sweden showing where the Gädda arms are recorded
The Gädda arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1705.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Carl XII of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Carl XII of Sweden
1697–1718
Reigning in Sweden when the Gädda arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Gädda Family in Sweden
The surname Gädda carries a distinct connection to the natural world, as the word translates directly to "pike" in Swedish. In the early eighteenth century, the family was already established in Stockholm, with records confirming their presence in the city by 1705. During this era, surnames in Sweden were often adopted based on descriptive traits, geographic locations, or associations with nature. Because the pike is a common and hardy fish found throughout Swedish waters, the name likely originated as a nickname that eventually became a permanent family identifier. As the family lived in the capital during the early 1700s, they were part of a growing urban population navigating a time of significant political and social change in the Swedish Empire. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple descriptor into a formal hereditary surname that has been carried through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gedda
Old Norse word for a sharp, pointed object or a pike fish.
This name
GäddaA surname derived from the Swedish word for the predatory freshwater pike fish.
also spelled
Gadd
Gada
Related arms
Heyn, Heyne, Heine, Heunesimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Otterbjörk, Roland, Svenska förnamn: Kortfattat namnlexikon, 1964
Brylla, Eva, Förnamn i Sverige: Kortfattat namnlexikon, 2004
Stockholms stadsarkiv (Stockholm City Archives), Mantalslängder för Stockholms stad (Tax census records for the city of Stockholm)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
