A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gaudy family of Germany.
Reg. 9150 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 neuf merlettes de gu., rangées en orle, 4, 2, 2 et 1. T.: deux anges. D.: VIVIT POST FUNERA VIRTUS.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gaudy Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gaudy arms are recorded
The Gaudy 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 Gaudy 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 Gaudy Family in Germany
The family name Gaudy has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname, as the term often related to individuals who possessed a joyful, festive, or showy personality. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a landscape defined by small agricultural communities and a growing bureaucracy under the Electorate. Families like the Gaudys were often tied to the land or local trades, contributing to the steady development of the region’s social fabric. As the family grew, they became part of the local history of southern Germany, living through a period of significant cultural change and regional stability that helped shape their identity for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaudeo
Latin verb meaning to rejoice, be glad, or take pleasure.
This name
GaudyA descriptive surname for a joyful, merry, or lighthearted person.
also spelled
Gaudie
Gaudey
Godi
Related arms
Brommersimilar arms
Gaudivariant spelling
Brentanorecorded with Gaudy, same area
Faustrecorded with Gaudy, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
