A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gugel family of Germany.
Reg. 7902 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 gu. à la bande d'azur, ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'or, posées dans le sens de la bande. C.: un buste d'homme barbu, posé de profil, hab. aux armes de l'écu, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais de gu., retr. d'or. L. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1502
Where the Gugel Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Gugel arms are recorded
The Gugel arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1502.
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.
Maximilian I
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian I
1486–1519
Reigning in Germany when the Gugel 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 Gugel Family in Germany
The name Gugel originates from Middle High German and refers to a specific type of hooded garment or cowl worn during the medieval period. It is likely that the name began as a nickname for someone who frequently wore this distinctive head covering or perhaps for a person who made them for a living. By the year 1502, the family was well-established in the city of Nuremberg, which was a major center for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. During this era, Nuremberg was a thriving hub where families like the Gugels participated in the city’s complex social and economic life. As the family grew, they became integrated into the urban fabric of the city, contributing to the local culture and the bustling markets that defined the region at the turn of the sixteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kugel
A Middle High German term referring to a ball or sphere.
This name
GugelA nickname for a person with a round head or a stout build.
Related arms
Puccinellisimilar arms
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 and Cascorbi, Paul, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1933
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
