A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gausman family of Germany.
Reg. 3712 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à un chevalier iss., arm. de toutes pièces, mouv. du coupé, le casque panaché d'arg. et de gu., tenant de ses mains une épée flamboyante levée; au 2 d'arg. au lion de gu. C.: le chevalier iss., entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur sa., à sen. d'arg. sur gu. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Gausman arms are recorded
The Gausman 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 Gausman 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 Gausman Family in Germany
The Gausman family name originates from the southern regions of Germany, with documented roots in Bavaria dating back to at least 1765. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word "Gaus," which was often used as a descriptive term for a person who lived near a specific waterway or a low-lying area. During the mid-18th century, families in this region were typically tied to the land as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Life in rural Bavaria during this period was defined by the seasonal rhythms of agriculture and the strict social structures of the local villages. As members of the community, the early Gausmans would have been recorded in local church registers, which served as the primary method for tracking births, marriages, and deaths before modern civil registration began. These early ancestors helped shape the cultural identity of their Bavarian home through their participation in local trade and communal village life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gauz
Derived from the Germanic tribal name Gaut or Goth meaning Goth.
This name
GausmanA topographic or occupational name for a man from the land of the Goths.
also spelled
Gassman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei (Parish Church Registers), 1765
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
lionCourage, strength and royalty
