A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gundlach family of Germany.
Reg. 0970 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'azur à la bande d'or, ch. de trois oiseaux de gu.; aux 2 et 3 taillé d'or sur sa.; à un bouquetin ramp. de l'un en l'autre, accorné de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un bouquetin iss. de sa., accorné de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gundlach Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gundlach arms are recorded
The Gundlach arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Gundlach 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 Gundlach Family in Germany
The surname Gundlach originates from the German language and is rooted in ancient Germanic personal names. It is composed of two primary elements. The first part, "gund," translates to battle or war, while the second part, "lach," is often associated with a person who is a fighter or a warrior. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. In 1765, members of the Gundlach family were active participants in the local social and economic life of this area. During this period, Bavaria was a collection of territories where families were often tied to specific trades or agricultural land. The presence of the Gundlach name in official records from this time suggests that the family was part of the common citizenry that helped shape the development of rural and town life in southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gundlach
Derived from Old High German gund meaning battle and lach meaning stream.
This name
GundlachRefers to a person who lived near a battle stream or a warrior's brook.
also spelled
Gundlak
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 Familiennamen, geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
