A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gop family of Germany.
Reg. 1173 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 coq de sa., crêté de gu.; au 2 de sa. à trois pais d'or. C.: le coq; entre deux prob., coupées alt. de sa. et d'or.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Gop Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Gop arms are recorded
The Gop arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats 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 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 Gop 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Gop Family in Germany
The family name Gop originated in the historical region of Franconia, which is located in the northern part of modern-day Bavaria. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Gop family were well-established residents within this area. During the eighteenth century, Franconia was a collection of smaller territories and principalities, and families often stayed in the same villages for generations to work in agriculture or local trades. The name likely developed as a localized surname, reflecting the specific dialect and naming customs common to the rural communities of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Franconian village life, contributing to the local economy and community traditions that defined the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gottfried
Derived from the Germanic elements for God and peace or protection.
This name
GopA shortened pet form of names beginning with the element God, signifying divine favor.
also spelled
Gop
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
