A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Guth family of Switzerland.
Reg. 2392 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à trois gerbes d'or. C.: un vol à l'antique, l'aile de derrière d'or, l'aile de devant aux armes de l'écu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Guth Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Guth arms are recorded
The Guth arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Guth Family in Switzerland
The surname Guth is rooted in the Germanic languages, where it historically functioned as a descriptive nickname. The word itself translates to "good" and was likely used to identify a person of kind character or high moral standing within their community. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Bâle, which is known today as Basel, Switzerland. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the family were integrated into the social and economic life of this region during a period of significant growth for the city. As the family settled into this urban environment, the name became a permanent fixture in local civil and parish registers, marking their transition from a descriptive label to a formal family identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
guot
Old High German term meaning good or capable.
This name
GuthA descriptive nickname for a person considered virtuous, kind, or skilled.
also spelled
Guthe
Goot
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
Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt, Bürgerverzeichnisse und Einwohnerregister der Stadt Basel, 1745
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
