A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gess family of Austria.
Reg. 1919 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
columnFortitude and constancy
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur à une colonne d'or, cour. du même, posée sur un piédestal aussi d'or; aux 2 et 3 de gu. au lion d'arg., cour. d'or. Sur le tout d'or à l'aigle ép. de sa., surm. d'une couronne impériale et ch. sur la poitrine du chiffre F. II. en lettres d'or. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° la colonne; 1. d'or et d'azur; 2° les meubles du surtout; 1. d'or et de sa.; 3° le lion iss.; 1. d'arg. et de gu. S.: deux lions reg., au nat.”
Austriac. 1638
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Map of Austria showing where the Gess arms are recorded
The Gess arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1638.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1638
Granting Authority for the Gess Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Austria when the Gess arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Gess Family in Austria
The family name Gess has deep roots in the Alpine region of Tyrol, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1638. During this period, Tyrol was a vital crossroads for trade and culture within the Holy Roman Empire. Families in this mountainous area often took names based on their specific trade, their physical traits, or the unique geography of their home village. The name Gess likely emerged as a localized variation of older Germanic terms, possibly linked to the rugged landscape or the agricultural life common to the high valleys. Because Tyrol was a hub for movement between the Italian peninsula and the German-speaking lands, the Gess family lived in a society that valued both local tradition and the exchange of new ideas. Over the centuries, these early ancestors helped shape the rural communities of the region by working the land and participating in the local governance of their mountain parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gesse
Middle High German term for a street or narrow passage.
This name
GessAn occupational or topographical name referring to someone who lived near a narrow lane.
also spelled
Goes
Gues
Goesse
Ges
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1638
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Kühebacher, Egon, Die Ortsnamen Südtirols und ihre Geschichte, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
columnFortitude and constancy
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
columnFortitude and constancy
lionCourage, strength and royalty
