A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gottshall family of Germany.
Reg. 1843 · 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
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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
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Map of Germany showing where the Gottshall arms are recorded
The Gottshall 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 Gottshall 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 Gottshall Family in Germany
The surname Gottshall originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep roots in the Bavarian landscape. The name is derived from the Middle High German words "got," meaning God, and "schalc," meaning a servant or a vassal. Historically, this suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely known as "servants of God," a title that may have reflected a person's religious devotion or their role in a local church community. By 1745, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in Bavaria, living as part of a society defined by agricultural traditions and local craftsmanship. These early generations lived through a period of significant regional change, navigating the complex social structures of the Holy Roman Empire while maintaining their distinct family identity within their village communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gott-Schalk
God and servant or attendant.
This name
GottshallA servant of God, often used as a name for a pious individual.
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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
