A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goshay family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2172 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un coq hardi d'or.”
SwitzerlandNeufchâtel, c. 1745
Where the Goshay Arms Were Recorded
Neufchâtel
Map of Switzerland showing where the Goshay arms are recorded
The Goshay arms were recorded in Neufchâtel, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Goshay Family in Switzerland
The family name Goshay finds its historical roots in the region of Neufchâtel, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1745. During the eighteenth century, this area was a hub of activity in the Principality of Neuchâtel, which maintained a unique political status under the Prussian crown. Families living in this region often worked in specialized trades such as watchmaking or lace production, which were the primary drivers of the local economy at the time. The name likely evolved from local linguistic variations common to the French-speaking Jura mountains. As members of the family moved through these communities, they participated in the social and religious life of the local parishes, which served as the central record keepers for births and marriages. This early presence in Neufchâtel suggests that the family was well-integrated into the regional culture long before the industrial shifts of the nineteenth century changed the landscape of the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gau
A district or region in Germanic administrative terminology.
This name
GoshayRefers to a person who lived in or originated from a specific rural district or region.
also spelled
Gauchad
Gaucha
Gosha
Goshay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives: Archives de l'État de Neuchâtel, Registres paroissiaux de Neuchâtel
Book: Henry, Philippe, Histoire du canton de Neuchâtel: Tome 1, Des origines à la fin de l'Ancien Régime, 2011
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cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
