A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gann family of Russia.
Reg. 8629 · Russian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Taillé d'azur sur gu.; à une barre de sin., br. sur le taillé et ch. d'un caducée d'or, posé dans le sens de la barre; l'azur ch. d'une couronne impériale de Russie, au nat., mouv. de la barre; le gu. ch. d'un coq hardi et cont. de sa., posé sur une terrasse de sin. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'arg. L.: à dextre de sin. et d'azur, à sen. de gu. et d'azur.”
Russiac. 1784
Where the Gann Arms Were Recorded
Moscow
Map of Russia showing where the Gann arms are recorded
The Gann arms were recorded in Russia, c. 1784.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are recorded.
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 Russia in this period.
Catherine II of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Catherine II of Russia
1762–1796
Reigning in Russia when the Gann arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Gann Family in Russia
The surname Gann has deep roots that stretch across European borders, with significant historical evidence placing family members in Moscow by 1784. During this period, the name was associated with individuals who navigated the complex social and professional landscapes of the Russian Empire. Many families with this name were part of a broader movement of people who migrated for trade, military service, or administrative roles throughout the eighteenth century. Because the name appears in diverse regional records, it suggests that the family was mobile and well-integrated into the urban life of growing cities. By maintaining a presence in major cultural hubs like Moscow, early members of the Gann family were often positioned to participate in the rapid modernization and intellectual shifts occurring across the continent at that time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gann
Derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan meaning God is gracious.
This name
GannA patronymic surname originating from a diminutive form of the name John.
also spelled
Ganne
Ganneh
Gan
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Petrov, P. N., Istoriya rodov russkogo dvoryanstva (History of the Families of the Russian Nobility), 1886
Unbegaun, B. O., Russian Surnames, 1972
Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (RGADA), Fond 1209: Moscow Provincial Office Records
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
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
