A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Giese family of Germany.
Reg. 2839 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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.: au 1 d'azur au lion cont. d'or, cour. du même, tenant de sa patte sen. une flèche du même en bande; aux 2 et 3 d'or à trois fasces de gu.; au 4 d'azur à un cygne d'arg., assis sur une couronne d'or. C.: un cygne d'arg., entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre d'or sur azur, à sen. de gu. sur arg. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'azur et de gu. [Les 1er et 4e quartiers contiennent les armes de fam.]”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Giese Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Giese arms are recorded
The Giese arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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.
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 Giese 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Giese Family in Germany
The surname Giese is a patronymic name that originated in the northern regions of Germany. It is derived from the medieval given name Giso, which was a short form of longer Germanic names starting with the element gisil, meaning a hostage or a pledge of nobility. By the time the family was firmly established in the Westphalia region during the mid-18th century, the name had evolved into its current spelling through local dialect changes. Families carrying this name in Westphalia were often deeply rooted in the agrarian culture of the area, where they worked as independent farmers or skilled tradespeople. Because surnames were becoming more standardized during the 1700s, the name Giese served as a vital identifier for tax records and church registries, helping to track the lineage of families who lived in the rural villages of the Prussian provinces.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gisel
A Germanic word meaning a pledge, hostage, or noble offspring.
This name
GieseA patronymic or nickname derived from a short form of names containing the element pledge.
also spelled
Giesse
Geeza
Geesa
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Personenstandsregister und Kirchenbücher der westfälischen Provinzen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
