A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guns family of Austria.
Reg. 8057 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 d'azur à une tour d'arg., soutenue d'une muraille crén. du même, maconnée de sa.; aux 2 et 3 coupé: a. d'or à un corbeau reg. de sa.; b. de gu. à un scorpion d'or, en fasce. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º le corbeau du 2, entre un vol d'or; I. d'or et de sa.; 2º le scorpion, br. sur deux panaches de cinq pl. d'aut. de gu., l'un sur l'autre; I. d'or et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
Where the Guns Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Guns arms are recorded
The Guns arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Guns Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Guns arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Guns Family in Austria
The family name Guns finds its historical roots in the rugged, mountainous landscape of Tyrol, where members of the family were documented as early as 1772. In this region of the Alps, surnames often evolved from the specific occupations, physical traits, or geographical landmarks associated with a family’s home. The name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier for individuals living near specific terrain or those who held a particular role within their local village community. Life in eighteenth-century Tyrol was defined by tight-knit mountain settlements and agricultural traditions, meaning that families like the Guns were deeply connected to the land and the seasonal rhythms of the high valleys. As the family grew and moved through these alpine territories, the name became a way to track their heritage across the changing political borders of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gund
Old High German word meaning battle or war.
This name
GunsA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a battle site.
also spelled
Juritschitsch
Guns
Yuritshich de Goons
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster 1772
Huter, Franz, Tiroler Urkundenbuch, 1937
Obermair, Hannes, Tirolensia: Quellen zur Tiroler Geschichte, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ravenConstancy and divine providence
crabSteadfast defence that yields no ground
