A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kuch family of Russia.
Reg. 6349 · Russian, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. à un croiss. d'or, surm. d'une étoile du même; aux 2 et 3 d'azur un bras, arm. d'arg.; au 4 de gu. à un soleil d'or.”
Russiac. 1784
Where the Kuch Arms Were Recorded
Moscow
Map of Russia showing where the Kuch arms are recorded
The Kuch arms were recorded in Russia, c. 1784.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Moscow.
Moscow held the Russian court, and rank there came from service rather than land. Families who served the Tsar were entered in the registers of nobility, and that entry is where their arms are recorded.
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 Russia in this period.
Catherine II of Russia
Sovereign of the period
Catherine II of Russia
1762–1796
Reigning in Russia when the Kuch arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Russia
Russian heraldry was strictly tied to the nobility and the state service system. Families proved their ancient status or earned new rank to receive an official grant from the Tsar. These symbols were then inherited by all legitimate children of the noble line. If a family lacked proof of their status, they were often excluded from the official records entirely.
Granting authority
The Herald Master's Office acted as the central state body that strictly regulated and verified all noble heraldic symbols.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal state grant or by proving their noble status to the government authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms were officially recorded in the General Armorial of the Noble Families of the Russian Empire starting in 1797.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Russia.
Origin & History of the Kuch Family in Russia
The family name Kuch has deep roots that trace back to the shifting landscapes of Eastern Europe. By the year 1784, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Moscow, placing them within the heart of the Russian Empire during a period of significant cultural and social change. The name itself is often linked to linguistic traditions in Slavic and Germanic regions, where it frequently functioned as a descriptive term or a shortened form of longer occupational titles. As the family moved through these territories, they became part of the complex social fabric of the eighteenth century. Their presence in a major urban center like Moscow suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the trade, craft, or administrative networks that defined city life at the time. This history reflects the broader movement of families across borders, as they sought new opportunities and integrated into the evolving societies of the era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
kucha
A Slavic term referring to a heap, pile, or cluster.
This name
KuchA nickname for a person who is stout, stocky, or lives in a crowded group.
also spelled
Kuche
Kuchh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Russian State Historical Archive (Rossiyskiy gosudarstvennyy istoricheskiy arkhiv), Fond 1343, Opis 23
Bauer, Friedrich, Chronik der russischen Residenzstadt Moskau, 1824