A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gottardi family of Germany.
Reg. 8978 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. au lion d'arg., tenant de sa patte dextre une couronne de lauriers de sin., supp. de sa sen. un hanap double d'or, et soutenu d'un tertre d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, assis de front, supp. le hanap de sa patte dextre et tenant la couronne de laurier de sa sen.; entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile d'azur. L.: à dextre d'azur et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gottardi Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gottardi arms are recorded
The Gottardi arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Gottardi 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Gottardi Family in Germany
The family name Gottardi carries roots that reflect the movement of people across the alpine regions of Europe. While the name is often associated with Italian origins, historical records confirm that members of the Gottardi family were firmly established in the Bavarian region by 1765. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a bustling center of trade and agriculture, and families often settled in these areas to work as skilled craftsmen or landholders. The name itself likely evolved from personal names that expressed religious devotion, which was a common practice for families living in southern Germany and the surrounding mountain territories. As these early ancestors moved through the region, they contributed to the local economy and social fabric of their communities, leaving a paper trail in parish registers and tax documents that document their presence long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gottard
Derived from the Germanic elements for god and hardy or brave.
This name
GottardiA patronymic surname meaning son of the brave one protected by God.
also spelled
Gotardi
Gottardy
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
