A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gud family of Netherlands.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's crossJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De sin. au saut. d'or.”
The Gud arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
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 Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Gud arms are first recorded.
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
The surname Gud has deep roots in the northern coastal region of Friesland, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1815. In the Frisian language, the name is closely linked to the Old Germanic word for good, often serving as a descriptive nickname for a person of kind character or high moral standing. During the early nineteenth century, the people of Friesland lived in a society defined by strong community ties and agricultural traditions, which likely helped the family maintain a consistent presence in the area. As the region underwent significant social and political changes during the Napoleonic era, families like the Guds relied on their local heritage to define their identity. By tracing these early records, we see a family that was deeply integrated into the fabric of Frisian life, reflecting the values and linguistic history of their homeland.
Old Dutch word meaning good, virtuous, or favorable.
