A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gotter family of Germany.
Reg. 5894 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à deux croiss. adossés d'or, acc. de six étoiles du même, 3 rangées en chef, 2 en flancs et 1 en p. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile (8) d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gotter Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gotter arms are recorded
The Gotter 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 Gotter 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 Gotter Family in Germany
The family name Gotter is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1765. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "got," which relates to the concept of a god or a divine being. In many cases, such names began as descriptive nicknames or occupational titles that eventually became hereditary surnames during the late Middle Ages. Families living in the Bavarian region during the eighteenth century were often tied to the land through agriculture or local craft guilds. As the family established their roots in this area, they became part of the social and economic fabric of the rural communities that defined southern Germany. Over time, the name persisted through generations, reflecting the steady migration and settlement patterns common among families in the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gott
The Germanic word for a divine being or deity.
This name
GotterA patronymic or descriptive name referring to a person associated with God.
also spelled
Goter
Gottre
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. 1967
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
