A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gothe family of Germany.
Reg. 2861 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une étoile (6) d'arg.; à la bord. du même. Cq. cour. C.: l'étoile [Armes de J. W. von Goethe.]”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1782
Where the Gothe Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Gothe arms are recorded
The Gothe arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1782.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Gothe 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Gothe Family in Germany
The family name Gothe traces its roots to the historical region of Saxony, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1782. The name itself is likely derived from early Germanic linguistic roots, often associated with the term for a person from the region of the Goths or linked to specific descriptive nicknames common in medieval naming traditions. During the late 18th century, families in Saxony often lived in agrarian communities or small market towns where surnames became increasingly fixed in official church and civil records. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Saxon landscape, which was then a significant center for trade, mining, and agriculture within the Holy Roman Empire. The presence of the Gothe name in these local records suggests that the family was well-integrated into the regional administration and parish life of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gode
Derived from the Old High German word for god or deity.
This name
GotheA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named with the element god.
also spelled
Gothe
Goete
Geta
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, 1972
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1782
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
