A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gagg family of Germany.
Reg. 0849 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
columnFortitude and constancy
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., bq. et m. d'or, mouv. du parti; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même, soutenu d'une terrasse de sin., tenant de ses pattes une orange tigée et feuillée; le lion du 2 cont. Sur le tout d'azur à une colonne d'or, sommée d'une étoile du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion du 2, iss., entre un vol, l'aile dextre coupée d'arg. sur gu., l'aile sen. de sa. plein; 1. d'or et de sa.; 2° un homme iss., hab. d'un parti d'or et d'azur, au rabat de l'un en l'autre, le bras dextre paré d'azur rebr. d'or, le bras sen. paré d'or rebr. d'azur, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais d'azur retr. d'or, supp. de sa main dextre une étoile d'arg.; l. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gagg Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gagg arms are recorded
The Gagg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Germany when the Gagg 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 Gagg Family in Germany
The surname Gagg is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with documented evidence placing the family in the Bavarian region as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a collection of rural territories where surnames often evolved from local nicknames, occupations, or specific geographic landmarks. The name Gagg likely originated as a descriptive term used to identify individuals within small, tight-knit village communities. As families in this region were typically tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trade, the Gagg name became a stable identifier passed down through generations of farmers and craftsmen. By the mid-1700s, these families were well-established members of their local parishes, where their births, marriages, and deaths were recorded in official church books. This period of history was marked by a strong sense of community stability, allowing the Gagg name to persist and spread throughout the Bavarian countryside as the family grew and moved between neighboring towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaggen
To stammer or stutter in speech.
This name
GaggA descriptive nickname for someone who spoke with a stutter or impediment.
also spelled
Gagg
Gag
Lowenberg
Gagg-Lowenberg
Gag de Lovenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising
Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Handbuch der bayerischen Geschichte, 1974
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
columnFortitude and constancy
lionCourage, strength and royalty
