A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gusman family of Austria.
Reg. 6270 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
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)
“D'azur à une ancre d'or, posée en bande, acc. de deux couronnes du même, 1 en chef à sen. et 1 en p. à dextre. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, d'or et d'azur.”
GaliciaGalicia, c. 1772
Where the Gusman Arms Were Recorded
Map of Austria showing where the Gusman arms are recorded
The Gusman arms were recorded in Galicia, c. 1772.
Galicia was eastern country of large estates and small farming villages, held by families who had been there for a very long time. Land was what entitled a family to arms, and land there rarely changed hands.
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
Galicia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Gusman 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 Gusman 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 Galicia.
Origin & History of the Gusman Family in Austria
The family name Gusman carries a deep connection to the rugged landscape of Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain where records confirm the family was established by at least 1772. The name is a variant of the more common Spanish surname Guzmán, which likely originated as a descriptive term for a "good man" or a person of noble character. During the eighteenth century, families in Galicia were often deeply tied to the land, working as small-scale farmers or artisans within tight-knit rural communities. Because Galicia served as a crossroads for various cultural influences, the Gusman family likely lived through periods of significant social change as the region transitioned toward modern administrative systems. By maintaining their presence in this area, early members of the family helped shape the local identity of their villages while contributing to the agricultural and social fabric of the Spanish countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaut-man
Derived from the Germanic tribal name Gaut and the word for man.
This name
GusmanA person belonging to the Goth tribe or a man of the Goth people.
also spelled
Gusman
Gussman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archivo Histórico Diocesano de Santiago de Compostela, Libros de Bautismos y Matrimonios
Archivo del Reino de Galicia, Catastro de Ensenada
García García, A., Historia de Galicia, 1980
Moll, F. de B., Els llinatges catalans, 1959
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
