A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gottschall family of Germany.
Reg. 8638 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“une croix latine d'arg.; entre deux prob., coupées alt. de gu. et d'arg.; 2° un lion iss. d'or, entre deux bannières d'azur, ch. chacune d'une tête de lion d'or, celle à sen. cont.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1745
Where the Gottschall Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gottschall arms are recorded
The Gottschall arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1745.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Gottschall 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gottschall Family in Germany
The surname Gottschall is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, combining the Old High German words for God and servant or devotee. This suggests that the name originally functioned as a descriptor for a person known for their piety or religious service within their community. By the year 1745, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region of Germany. During this period, Bavaria was a collection of territories deeply influenced by the Holy Roman Empire, and families like the Gottschalls were typically involved in local agriculture, trade, or skilled craftsmanship. As members of a society defined by village life and parish records, these early ancestors likely lived in small, tight-knit communities where their name served as a clear identifier of their family lineage and social standing. Over generations, the name persisted as these families navigated the shifting political and economic landscapes of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gott-Schalk
God and servant or attendant
This name
GottschallA medieval occupational or devotional name denoting a servant of God.
also spelled
Gotschall
Gottschal
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
