A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gutschow family of Germany.
Reg. 5371 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'or à une croix pattée d'azur, cant. de quatre roses à six feuilles de gu. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1780
Where the Gutschow Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Gutschow arms are recorded
The Gutschow arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1780.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Gutschow 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Gutschow Family in Germany
The family name Gutschow originates from the northern regions of Germany, specifically within the historic territory of Mecklenburg. By the late 18th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the rural landscapes of this area. The name itself is likely locational in origin, derived from the village of Gutschow located in the nearby region of Pomerania. During the 1700s, families in this part of Germany often moved between neighboring provinces to find work in agriculture or trade. As these individuals settled in new towns, their surname served as a marker of their geographic roots. Over time, the name became a permanent identifier for these families as they integrated into the local communities of Mecklenburg.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gode
Derived from the Germanic word for god or good.
This name
GutschowA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Gode or Godschalk.
also spelled
Gutschow
Gutzkow
Gutshow dit von Gutskow
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
