A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gutmann family of Germany.
Reg. 3852 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à un pélican avec ses petits d'or, mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'arg. à la fasce de gu. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un homme iss. et cont., hab. d'azur, ceint, rebr. et bordé d'or, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais d'azur, retr. d'or, le bout orné de plumes de paon, tenant de sa main sen. une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin.; 1. d'or et d'azur; 2° un lion iss. d'or, cour. du même, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Gutmann Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gutmann arms are recorded
The Gutmann arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Gutmann 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gutmann Family in Germany
The surname Gutmann is a classic example of a descriptive German name that originated during the Middle Ages. It is formed from the words gut, meaning good, and mann, meaning man. In the context of early Germanic naming traditions, this name was often used as a complimentary nickname for a person of high moral character or a kind neighbor. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a simple nickname into a hereditary family surname. During the eighteenth century, families in the Bavarian region were often deeply tied to their local parishes and agricultural communities. The presence of the Gutmann family in this area suggests they were part of the established social fabric of southern Germany, likely working as tradespeople or farmers who contributed to the stability of their village life. As the family grew, they helped carry this name across the region, cementing its place in the historical record of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gud
Old Germanic term meaning good, favorable, or pious.
This name
GutmannA descriptive surname for a kind, virtuous, or good-natured individual.
also spelled
Gutman
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
