Heraldry and Coats of Arms - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

family crest

mzalar194 — 2009-11-08 20:47:29Z

please- i am in search of the zalar family crest, and i keep running into a block. i would be very grateful to any one with a clue! thanks!!

Re: Help with verifying/identifying arms

thesolarknight — 2009-11-08 20:44:42Z

The cup was a wedding gift from Queen Marie Antoinette to Gabriel D'Vebre and Mary Burke. I am attaching a picture of the D'Vebre Coat of arms.
~John DeWeber

Re: Herweck Coat of arms/Surname history

13confido — 2009-11-08 20:41:11Z

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a "FAMILY coat of arms" or "Family Crest." They are earned by or granted to individuals. If you are not finding a coat of arms, it is quite likely that no one of your family/surname either earned them or had them granted.

You will find many responses to queries of this nature on this board (& List). Other responses may provide additional information. Use the search engine to easily read more on the subject.

Kind Regards,

Lauren McLachlan
Heraldry & Coats of Arms Admin

Re: Gutowski Coat of Arms/Surname History

13confido — 2009-11-08 20:40:07Z

Gutowski Coat of Arms/Surname History

jherwick09 — 2009-11-02 19:32:26Z

My grandfather's family came from Russia/Poland.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the Gutowski Coat of arms is and if there is a surname history.

I have been looking everywhere and no database has any information for me. They always say that "the surname Gutowski is not found in our database."

Any information will be appreciated.

Herweck Coat of arms/Surname history

jherwick09 — 2009-11-02 19:31:33Z

My husband's family came from Germany, generations of them, back to the 1600's we have found so far.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the Herweck Coat of arms is and if there is a surname history.

I have been looking everywhere and no database has any information for me. They always say that "the surname Herweck is not found in our database."

Any information will be appreciated.

Re: Motto

bobm145 — 2009-10-31 17:52:45Z

Hello, my name is Bob Morison from Arkansas. My family's motto is "Praetia Prudentia Ptaestst" (Prudence Yields Rewards) Also the crest is Two hands greasping a dagger erect. I wonder if we are from the same clan. Bob

Re: British COA: Family or City? Fide Sed Cui Vide

jacquelinejackman — 2009-10-29 10:18:30Z

Please could you identify the family with this motto. I think the coat of arms has three dolphins, but they could be other fish.

Re: Help with verifying/identifying arms

clarwrath — 2009-09-02 16:31:31Z

Thanks for looking. The information comes from www.deveber.com. A thumbnail sketch on Gabriel DeVebre is found at this link http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/e/v/George-A-De...

Re: Help with verifying/identifying arms

gjks — 2009-09-02 10:44:48Z

Interesting, as those aren't Burke arms on the sinister. Forgive my asking, but where did you obtain that info about those D'Vebre arms?

Re: Biszantz Coat of Arms

gjks — 2009-07-27 05:15:39Z

There is no easy answer to your quandary. I'm not at all surprised that you are having problems with conflicting information. The image that you have provided with your query has no provenance whatsoever and is what is referred to as a 'potted history' of a family name - more often than not something that is spewed out by tapping a couple of computer keys and getting generic info from a 'potted' database. This is a typical 'tool' used by unscrupulous heraldry-mongers trying to sell their fraudulent wares to the gullible members of the public. They're referred to as 'bucket shops'.

First of all, Arms are personal, just like a passport or driving licence and unless you are in the direct male lineage of the original grantee, you wouldn't be entitled to use those arms. Arms do not belong to a name - it's the other way round - a particular person's name belongs to specific arms.

I quite often use as an example someone by the name of Smith looking for "their family arms". There are well over 500 different designs registered in the surname of Smith or its derivatives. Just because you might happen to also be a Smith does not give you any right to use any one of those registered arms as your own unless you can produce documentary evidence of a paternal pedigree linking you to a specific Smith armiger (person entitled to bear arms).

However, that said, if the original letters patent for the grant of arms stipulated that they were to be used by the male heirs of the original armiger, then all his sons, grandsons, great-grand sons, etc., would be entitled to use those arms which, in regulated heraldic jurisdictions, have to be 'differenced' from the original arms.

Secondly, may I direct your attention to the Most Frequently Asked Questions (MFAQ) on personal arms that you will find on Francois Velde's excellent heraldic website at http://www.heraldica.org/faqs/mfaq - it may well give you a better idea of things heraldic. Also available for perusal is the Society of Genealogists Information Leaflet #15 which can be viewed at http://www.sog.org.uk/leaflets/arms.pdf

To know IF you are entitled to use 'such and such' arms, you would have to do the paternal genealogy research back to an original armiger (and all the children in between). I am willing to do some limited research on the arms that you already have if you could send me a copy by email to gjksau at yahoo dot com dot au.

<< A second source I found yesterday on www.wappenbuch.com has a different spelling of Bisantz and a different coat of arms. >>
Those arms displayed at that web-reference are those of the bishop of the one-time (RC?) diocese of Bisantz.

Wilson - Geneology links (Scotland)

2009-03-10 14:57:07Z

I'm trying to find more detailed information on the links between 'Wilson' and 'Colquhoon', 'Coquhoone' or even 'Cahoone' or 'Cahoon'. Coats of arms details would also be helpful.

Re: Ohnemus surname meaning?

ErikaEder27 — 2009-03-04 03:25:37Z

Hallo Misty,
you ask what Ohnemus means in German?

translated : Ohne means without

Mus can be Apfelmus ( Applesauce) , or anything that is mashed.

This is just a simple Translation in German.

Hoffmann Coat of Arms

2009-01-29 01:01:08Z

Looking for Hoffmann and Koehler Coat of Arms

Biszantz Coat of Arms

shannonbiszantz — 2008-12-10 04:29:06Z

Hello,I have run into conflicting information regarding our coat of arms.One source I found 9 years ago provides the Coat of arms and states at the bottom of the description and picture "The grant of arms is recorded in the "Libro d'oro della Nobilita" (Italy) and "Das Grosse Wappenbuch" (Germany and Austria). A second source I found yesterday on www.wappenbuch.com has a different spelling of Bisantz and a different coat of arms. Can anyone recommend to me a professional or website location that can help me with this? I can easily email the original coat I received to anyone who might help. Thank you..I want to put the accurate one on the cover of my family book I am giving out as Xmas gifts this year. Shannon

CV for a grant of arms inquiry

2008-08-29 02:43:29Z

All the time I read that a CV or resume is required for a grant of arms. What type of CV would be required for a grant of arms from the College of Arms in London? I have hired a firm to research my genealogy but I am twenty-one and have a limited educational and work background. I am a student and will receive my associate’s degree in Management next Spring and I am working on my bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Would I need to wait to petition for a grant of arms until after I have earned my bachelor’s degree? I don’t have any military experience and I only work part time now but I do have some past managerial experience (1½ years). Also, I would first like to obtain certification of arms from the Kingdom of Spain for the arms that I am designing with the help of an amateur herald. Is a CV required for the certification and will I need to build up a more extensive work and academic history to be eligible for the certification or will they certify the arms upon payment? I admit that I am just starting out in the business world but obtaining a coat of arms and the certification and matriculation of the arms is a great priority for me. Lastly, if my CV falls far below the standard could my maternal grandfather obtain an honorary grant and transfer the arms to me? I understand that some arms can pass through the mother’s side. That might only be the case if there aren’t any male heirs. If that is the case it would eliminate that route because I have five uncles. My uncles are not interested in heraldry though. Please help me because I would at least like to start with the Spanish certification but the CV matter is worrying me.

Thank you,

Sean Wayne Tarin

Re: Using a Coat of Arms to Trace a Family? Edmund Moody b. 1495 Suffolk

davidmoody|MA288330 — 2008-08-29 02:43:18Z

The College of Arms in London http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/ maintains genealogical records for at least the individual granted Arms, and often, as in my case, I was able to have the College find the descendants of my ancestor, born 1495 down to my great great grandfather, born 1800. It was not cheap, but eventually I received a King of Arms certificate which awarded that 1532 Coat of Arms to me and my descendants.

Re: Vos Coat of Arms

2008-08-29 02:42:30Z

Many thanks for the direction. I know that also there are of places that offer info but that it is not always accurate.

Thanks again. I'll check it out

Don Vincente de Cadenas

2008-08-20 06:29:43Z

Jose,
There had been a rumour spread that Don Vincente had died, but this is NOT TRUE. I have recently petitioned him to certify my Arms, and he has consented to do so.
You should be able to send your petition to Don Vincente.
Regarding the CASAS Coat of Arms, if you intend to certify them as yours with Sr. Don Vincente de Cadenas y Vincent,
you MUST prove to him that your are a direct descendant of the individual who was originally granted the Arms.
If you cannot, then I would suggest you ask for help from
the Amateur Association of Heralds (Contact Mr. Steven Madewell) to assist you in designing your own Coat of Arms
and then submitting it to Don Vincente for Certification.
You could possibly take some of the elements of the CASAS
Coat of Arms and incorporate them into your design to
infer a connection with the original CASAS Coat of Arms.
Kindest Regards, Ken Shinn

Re: Looking for coat of arms for Husted (or Huested) and Lent

2008-08-01 00:19:52Z

Thank you for the Lent coat of arms. I really appreciate it. As for the Husted coat of arms, i don't know if there is one, I just assumed everyone had one. It's a very old family. Founding fathers of Old Greenwich and Greenwich, Ct. But thanks for looking. I'll keep trying. Thanks- Deborah Cooney

Looking for Bollinger and Bragg

2008-08-01 00:19:22Z

I am having a hard time finding coats of arms for the names Bollinger and Bragg. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

Re: Reliable and trustworthy coat of arms site

2002-11-20 03:02:08Z

So for example if I am looking for the surnames Bettio and Grabowski for instance...it is possible that there may be more than one coat of arms for one possible name? Is that right? Per say there may be many different coat of arms for the surname Smith?

Re: Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

jksdelver — 2008-08-09 04:34:46Z

My understanding of it is, The coat of arms is awarded to the person themselves and can't be used by other family members unless it is differenced in some way. For instance a coat with three white sheep has to be changed to say one black one for the son.

Re: Is This A Real Coat of Arms?

davidappleton007 — 2008-08-12 17:29:04Z

It has just enough anomalies to make me think that it's an artistic design that is supposed to look like a coat of arms, but which is not a coat of arms. For example, normally one would expect a shield divided into four quarters to have the separation lines centered on the shield; they are offset to sinister (right as you view it) and to chief in this rendition. I believe it's a pretty design, but not a real coat of arms.

David

Re: Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

gjks — 2008-08-09 04:36:24Z

Just for info, there are 56 Jackson entries in "Burke's General Armory", 4 in the "Supplement to Burkes GA" and 9 entries in Morant's "General Armory Two". "General Armory Two" is a volume dedicated to the corrections and additions to Burke's General Armory and the Supplement.

Three of the 56 Burke's GA entries bear the motto that you mention.

Can you let us see an image of the actual arms so that we might be able to identify just which one it is likely to be. Armed with that info, you will then have to do your homework to see if there might be any paternal bloodline connection.

Re: Identifying Old Canvas Coat of Arms Banner......?

gjks — 2008-07-11 06:24:28Z

The motto is associated with the following family surnames:
Chichester
Cooper
Gun
Hargreaves
James
Molesworth
Muncaster
O’Hara
Pennington
Shaw
However, the arms to which the motto applies appears to be not amongst those names. I have some difficulty is actually determining just what tincture the lions in the 1st and 4th quarters is supposed to be - any clues?

I believe that the motto actually translates in English to "The love of my country exceeds everything" or "The love of my country prevails". Well, it would be if it was spelt correctly - it should be ‘PATRICŒ’ not ‘PATRIÆ’ as the last word.

Re: Arms of Geoffrey de Marisco

gjks — 2008-07-14 15:06:42Z

a) Does “Party per fess” indicate the shield was divided into three sections horizontally?
No, the word 'party' just means 'divided'.

b) If not, what is the purpose of “Party”
To denote that the field of the shield is parted in some way.

c) If so, how were the sections coloured? Was it gules, vert and gules (top to bottom)?
No, not in this case. They would be Gules Argent and Vert.

d) How does one draw the “fess argent between two plates” (i.e. how does one draw a “fess” on a shield that has itself been defined as “Party per fess”?
Actually it says 'a Fess Argent between two Plates in Chief and a Crescent in Base'. Possibly a less confusing blazon might be "Tierced per Fess Gules Argent Vert in Chief two Plates and in base a Crescent Argent. See image attached.

Re: Polish Translation

gjks — 2008-06-18 23:00:46Z

I think that it might be an anacronym for Orders, Decorations and Medals.

coat of arms for Husted (or Huested) and Lent?

DeborahCooney84 — 2002-10-15 15:19:00Z

Hi, I'm looking for 2 coat of arms, one for Husted (or Huested) and one for Lent. If anyone can help me it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks-Deborah Cooney

Kirton Arms (Westmorland)

blairsou — 2008-08-01 00:15:59Z

This is my first posting to this board.

I have been researching the Kirton (Kirton, Kerton, Kearton, Kyrton and Querton) family with traceable origins back to Swaledale in Yorkshire. I have discovered several instances of Arms, the most relevant to my investigations being : Argent, a fesse and a chevron in chief gules.

The General Armory attributes these arms to Kirton (Westmorland).

The earliest reference I can find for someone bearing these arms is to Alan Kirton of Biddenham, co. Beds who died circa 1361.

I have found a reference in A Catalogue of English Medieval Rolls of Arms vol 100 Harleian Society, 1948
P 21 Charles’ Roll c 1285 made in 15th century. Version 2 contains 416 shields.
Additions in the Earl of Bedford’s Roll, this election was followed by a series of 97 shields beginning Rauf de Kyrketon…………… mainly 13th century.

1. Can anyone suggest sources of information, internet or otherwise, that may indicate who the original grant of arms was made to?
2. Can anyone advise me where Charles’ Roll, or the copies may be held and available for research?

Many thanks

Blair
S.B. Southerden
blairsou@globalnet.co.uk
Researching Kirton, Kerton, Kearton, Kirketon, Kyrton and Querton

Coat of Arms

lhm2868 — 2008-05-25 22:21:49Z

I purchased an antique frame and it had a coat of arms for a family, as best I can tell the family name is Askim Could you
describe your coat of arms, if this belongs to your family I will be happy to mail it to you. It appears to be very old, but in good condition.

Re: Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

HughSmith79 — 2008-08-09 04:35:21Z

Suggest you take a look at the College of Arms site at http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/

The first item on their FAQ page is:

Q. Do coats of arms belong to surnames?

A. No. There is no such thing as a 'coat of arms for a surname'. Many people of the same surname will often be entitled to completely different coats of arms, and many of that surname will be entitled to no coat of arms. Coats of arms belong to individuals. For any person to have a right to a coat of arms they must either have had it granted to them or be descended in the legitimate male line from a person to whom arms were granted or confirmed in the past.

Looking for Coats of Arms:Trimenal,Traymayll, Tremaille, Tremayle, Tramills, and Tremiles

tlynnried1 — 2006-04-15 02:38:41Z

Looking for Trammell.
There Ancestral seat was Nuremburg Germany.
However some people say they came from France .
In the 13th century During King Edward the I a Sir Nichelis Trimenal was ordered to serve and given a coat of arms befitting his status of knight who held sway over Bess, Bucks, and Northouts districts.
Can someone direct me to where I can look up this inforamtion. Where I should write to get this information
Thanks,
K

coat of arms descent

lbanks28 — 2008-08-19 13:50:53Z

an ancestor had arms but died without heir. he left his possesions to his nieces children, one of whom could only inherit if he changed his surname by Royal Licence or Act of Parliment. would that mean that he would also be able to use the arms?

new to all of this and trying to understand how it all works.

Re: coat of arms descent

lbanks28 — 2008-08-20 12:47:44Z

Thanks for that Martin. As I suspected the arms probably didn't continue, still I may contact the College of Arms and see what they say.

Thanks once again

Lynton

Re: coat of arms descent

lbanks28 — 2008-08-20 11:33:26Z

Sorry, probably wasn't very clear in what i was saying.

My family line is Banks. In the early 1800's Richard Banks married Esther Davies, daughter of William Davies and niece of James Davies of Moor Court. Although William and James both married only William had any children and the only son died young. When James died, having outlived William, he left the majority of his estate to the children of Richard and Esther. One of the children, James Banks, could only inherit if he changed his surname, by Royal Licence or Act of Parliment, to Davies. From then on that branch of the Banks line had the surname Davies, although most also had Banks as a middle name. I wondered if the arms that James Davies of Moor Court was entitled to would then descend through the line of James Banks (Davies post 1858) or if they would end with the death of James Davies.

Re: Currid Coat of Arms/Family Crest?

GWCURRID — 2008-08-01 01:28:09Z

I THINK I MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT I FOPUND IN RESEARCHING OUR FAMILY NAME. I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU A COPY IF YOU LIKE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DESCENDENT FROM O'CONNOR WHICH HELPED ME FIND OUR CREST.

Re: Arms of Geoffrey de Marisco

pmarri — 2008-07-14 19:53:33Z

Thanks - especially for the actual image, which is much appreciated. And your alternative description is much clearer than Matthew Paris's version (hey, what did he know?).

But, could you explain how the middle tincture comes to be argent? Paris says “Party per fess gules and vert" (i.e. he gives only two tinctures). So, where does "argent" come from? Is is a default tincture where none is specifically mentioned? I'm asking in ignorance.

Secondly, I'm interested in how you drew the image. I have a copy of the Blazons software package. Is that what you used?

Regards,

Phil

Arms of Geoffrey de Marisco

pmarri — 2008-07-14 08:06:09Z

Matthew Paris in his account of the execution of William de Marisco in 1242 gives the arms of both William and his father Geoffrey de Marisco, the Justiciar of Ireland. Geoffrey’s arms were “gules, a lion rampant argent”. Variations of these arms were used by various family members (including William), and they are straightforward to draw.

However, Paris also gives a second set of arms to Geoffrey de Marisco, possibly used in connection with his position as Justiciar. Can anyone help me work out how to draw them? They are described as:

“Party per fess gules and vert, a fess argent between two plates in chief and a crescent in base of the third”.

My main questions are:

a) Does “Party per fess” indicate the shield was divided into three sections horizontally?
b) If not, what is the purpose of “Party”
c) If so, how were the sections coloured? Was it gules, vert and gules (top to bottom)?
d) How does one draw the “fess argent between two plates” (i.e. how does one draw a “fess” on a shield that has itself been defined as “Party per fess”?

Regards,

Phil

German Coats of Arms - 12,000 crests

chakani — 2008-07-30 00:56:02Z

You may be interested in this Web site that shows the 1,200 pages of Johann Siebmacher's Wappenbuch (1702).

www.wappenbuch.com

'Wappenbuch' contains images of over 12,000 Coats of Arms from 17th Century Germany, and 15,000 names.

Scanned & indexed from a rare, ancient book.

The images have been carefully scanned at high resolution. The index has been revised, and thousands of errors and omissions have been corrected.

Currid Coat of Arms/Family Crest?

Killcur — 2008-07-29 18:57:18Z

Hi I am from Sligo Ireland, I am trying to find the coat of arms or family crest for the currid family. I cannot seem to find it anywhere! It must exist somewhere.....If anyone can help me please get in touch

Re: coat of arms descent

M_Goldstraw — 2008-08-20 11:23:50Z

Firstly, I am somewhat puzzled as to how you can have an ancestor who died without an heir. I presume you mean that he had no descendants. Clearly he had an heir because you say that he left a will. An heir is defined as a person who inherits or is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another.An ancestor is a person from whom one is descended. However, taking your question to mean that you have someone in your family tree who had no descendants but who had an heir in the form of the children of his niece, then in order for those children to be entitled to his arms he would have had to have made specific provision in his will by way of a name and arms clause.

It may be possible to obtain a copy of the will to clarify if the arms were mentioned.

Regards,
Martin
http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/weblog

Re: coat of arms descent

M_Goldstraw — 2008-08-20 12:40:02Z

If James Davies of Moor Court had included a "name and arms" clause in his will leaving his arms to his great nephew James Banks then the descendants of James (Banks) Davies would undoubtedly be entitled to those arms according to the law of arms. If he only left a name clause the arms would not have been inherited by James (Banks) Davies.

Without a specific destination mentioned in a will then the arms would be subject to the basic laws of arms and could only he inherited by a son of James Davies of Moor Court. With a specific destination, through a name and arms clause, the arms could be gifted, through the will, to practically anyone the testator wished subject to the success of the Royal Licence (or act of parliament).

I do not think that a simple "name clause" would be sufficient however if you feel that (or another) might benefit (armorially) from the will then it would be worth contacting the College of Arms to put the case before a herald. One never knows - after all, they have the "Ways & Means Act" at their disposal.

Regards,
Martin

Re: Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

haydenleah — 2008-08-09 04:37:06Z

Here it is....pardon the flashmark in it...it is behind glass in a very old frame and I do not have the nerve to take it out. It looks to me like it was all hand done - it is beautiful.

Laurie

Re: Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

haydenleah — 2008-08-09 04:35:52Z

Thank you for the tip! I have submitted a request to the college, hopefully they can help. I had no idea these things were that specific, especially with all the cheesy websites that offer to 'sell' you your families! Thanks again!!!!!

Laurie

Possible Jackson Coat of Arms?

haydenleah — 2008-08-09 04:34:17Z

I have just received a framed family crest / coast of Arms for part of my family from a relative who recently passed away. It is the (although from what I have found there are many)Jackson family crest, but I can't find it anywhere on line, only different ones. It has the latin phrase 'Malo Mori Quam Foedari' (I would rather die than be dishonored),but so do a lot of other crests..... My Jacksons were from Yorkshire. How do one dwtermine which line gets which crest, or would the one that I have (which is very old) have morphed into something more modern? How can I find what makes it special to MY family? Any help would be appreciated, can send a photo if necessary. Thanks!!
Laurie

Identifying Old Canvas Coat of Arms Banner......?

poolej169 — 2008-07-09 22:57:21Z

I recently inherited what appears to be a very old canvas banner with what appears to be a Coat of Arms. The item is large, 8' x 8' and seems to be hand painted. The motto at the bottom is Latin and reads, "To Love My Country" The top motto appears Welsh??? Not sure what it says.

The Coat of Arms I have not been able to identify. Any help would be appreciated, thanks. Jeremy

PS. I have other more detailed pictures if needed.

Re: Identifying Old Canvas Coat of Arms Banner......?

poolej169 — 2008-07-11 13:53:46Z

Thanks for the reply, I also found some of those names that are linked to that motto, but also could not find the actual coat of arms. I beleive the bottom Latin motto is spelt correctly and would be relative to the time and country the banner was made in, which brings me back to the top "motto" I still do not know what language it is?

I have attached a couple of more pictures that show the actual coat of arms a little clearer.

Polish Translation

jtmielnik — 2008-06-17 21:05:16Z

I'm reading a Polish book on Heraldry and Coat of Arms, HERBY SZLACHTY RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ. The Abbreviation, ODM appears often; does anyone know the meaning?

Thanks,
John

Prussian Coat of Arms - Gutwasser

JDJames89 — 2008-07-13 23:31:13Z

Hello everyone. I’m not terribly experienced with coats arms, so I’m hoping someone will be able to help me find out a little more information from a hand-painted family crest that has been passed down in my family.

I’ve attached a jpeg of the scanned image, but I’ll describe it briefly:

The shield’s field is blue and there is an odd image of something that looks like what could be a fancy gold colored cup (grail/goblet-like) with a four streams of silver (water maybe) pouring into it from a black dot (maybe its supposed to be a hole) just above it. It also gives the impression of a fountain.

The crest itself is a golden symbol that looks similar to a tall 4 with another line running horizontally through the leg of the four (see image). It is perched atop a silver helmet with blue and white wings springing up from the base to frame the 4 shape.

1588 is written across the upper part of the paper (split into 15 and 88 on either side of the crest).

Below the shield, in neat German calligraphy, is written:

Gutwasser ~
N.W. Böhmen b. Schneeberg.

My last (and only that I know of so far, I cannot locate any other members of her family) Gutwasser relative was my great great great grandmother whose maiden name was Anna Marie Gutwasser. She lived from 1849 to 1902 and I believe this framed coat of arms dates from about that time period. My research shows she was born in Mühlhausen, Thüringen, Prussia/Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1857.

I find this coat of arms to be very curious, and would like to ask anyone with experience with German heraldry, exactly what the text mentioned above means. Does the date 1588 apply to origins of the name Gutwasser or the city of Schneeberg? I know there are many cities, towns and villages named Gutwasser in Prussia (now Germany, Austria, etc.), could this maybe be a reference to a town named Gutwasser (maybe one my Gutwasser relatives were named after or vice versa)?

I’ve been researching the location of Schneebergs that were once Prussian (most of Bohemia is now in Austria) but have found nothing conclusive yet. There are a couple of prospects, but I can’t make any further suggestion without further research.

I would like it very much if anyone with experience in Germanic heraldry could possibly help me identify the symbols in this coat of arms and help me track down more information about this coat of arms and where it came from. As I’ve said, I’m not really experienced with heraldry of any kind, so I would be open to any suggestions of resources which I could use to identify when this coat of arms came to be (is there an index of dates and names granted crests in Bohemia, Prussia?)

If there is anything further, or any one has any questions, please leave a post. I will try and attach a decent sized jpeg of the Gutwasser coat of arms; please let me know if it doesn’t come through.

Thanks for your time. I haven’t come across anyone else researching the Gutwassers and fear I am treading in unexplored waters, so I’m looking forward to figuring out this little enigma in my genealogy research.