A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gode family of Denmark.
bullValour and generosityJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à un boeuf pass. d'or.”
The Gode arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Reigning in Denmark when the Gode arms are first recorded.
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
The family name Gode has deep roots in the Danish landscape, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region of Sjælland by the year 1722. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural social structure of Denmark, where families were often identified by their connection to specific local parishes or agricultural estates. The name itself is derived from the Old Norse word "goði," which historically referred to a chieftain or a priest who held both political and religious authority in a community. While the family members living in Sjælland in the early 18th century were likely common farmers or laborers, the name carries a legacy that links them to the ancient traditions of Northern Europe. As the family grew, they became part of the steady development of rural society, contributing to the local history of the island through their work and community life.
Old Norse term referring to a deity or divine being.
