A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Günz family of France.
Reg. 5976 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
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)
“Coupé d'or sur gu.; au lion de l'un en l'autre, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss.; entre un vol, coupé alt. d'or et de gu.”
AlsaceAlsace, c. 1785
Where the Günz Arms Were Recorded
Alsace
Map of France showing where the Günz arms are recorded
The Günz arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1785.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their own.
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 France in this period.
Louis XVI of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XVI of France
1774–1791
Reigning in France when the Günz arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Alsace.
Origin & History of the Günz Family in France
The family name Günz originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a topographic surname. In the medieval period, such names were often given to people based on the specific landscape features near their homes. The name is closely linked to the town of Günzburg in Bavaria, which sits at the confluence of the Günz and Danube rivers. By the late 18th century, members of the family had established themselves in the Alsace region of France, a territory that frequently saw the movement of families across the border between German and French lands. Records from 1785 confirm that the family was well-integrated into the local community life of Alsace during this era. As the family moved and settled in new areas, they maintained the name as a way to preserve their ancestral connection to the geography of their origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gund
A Germanic root meaning battle or war.
This name
GünzA topographic or habitational name referring to someone living near a marshy area or battle site.
also spelled
Guenz
Related arms
Bomalsimilar 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, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Archives départementales du Bas-Rhin, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
