A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guss family of Germany.
Reg. 7633 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 étoiles de gu. C.: un buste d'homme, posé de profil, hab. aux armes de l'écu, coiffé d'un bonnet pointu d'azur, retr. d'or.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Guss Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Guss arms are recorded
The Guss arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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 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 Guss 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Guss Family in Germany
The family name Guss has deep roots in the historical region of Swabia, where members of the family were documented as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Swabia was a collection of smaller territories within the Holy Roman Empire, characterized by a mix of farming communities and growing trade centers. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, which was a common way for families to distinguish themselves in small, tight-knit villages. As the family lived in this region, they were part of a society that valued local craftsmanship and agricultural traditions. Over time, the Guss family became part of the social fabric of the area, contributing to the local economy and community life long before the name spread to other parts of Europe and eventually across the Atlantic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Augustus
Derived from the Latin word meaning venerable, majestic, or noble.
This name
GussA shortened form of the name August, often used as a nickname for someone born in August.
also spelled
Guss
Gussenberg
Gus de Gusenberg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
State Archive of Baden-Württemberg (Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg), Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
