A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guldberg family of Denmark.
Reg. 9035 · Danish, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 taillé-enclavé d'arg. sur azur; aux 2 et 3 taillé-enclavé d'une seule pièce de gu. sur or. Sur le tout d'arg. à un mont d'or, mouv. de la p. C.: une mauvette au nat., entre deux prob. d'arg.”
Denmarkc. 1773
Where the Guldberg Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Guldberg arms are recorded
The Guldberg arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1773.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of 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 Denmark in this period.
Christian VII of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Christian VII of Denmark
1766–1808
Reigning in Denmark when the Guldberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Guldberg Family in Denmark
The Guldberg name is deeply rooted in the history of Denmark, with significant records placing the family on the island of Sjælland by the year 1773. The name itself is a compound word derived from the Danish terms for gold and mountain or hill. During the eighteenth century, it was common for families in this region to adopt surnames that reflected the landscape or the natural beauty of their surroundings. As the family established itself in Sjælland, they became part of the growing administrative and professional classes that shaped Danish society during the Enlightenment. By the late 1700s, members of the Guldberg family were active participants in the local economy and community life, helping to build the social foundations that would define the region for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gull and Berg
Gold and mountain or hill.
This name
GuldbergA topographical or habitational name referring to a golden mountain or a hill rich in gold.
also spelled
HoeghGuld
Guldberg
Hog Guldberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, Guldberg, Ove Høegh-Guldberg, 1980
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Folketællingen 1787 (Census records for Sjælland)
Trap, J.P., Kongeriget Danmark, 1898
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
