A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altdorf family of Germany.
Reg. 8270 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. au lion de gu. C.: un buste de femme, hab. d'arg., les cheveux épars, la tête sommée de trois plumes de paon au nat.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Altdorf Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Altdorf arms are recorded
The Altdorf arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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 Altdorf 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Altdorf Family in Germany
The surname Altdorf is a locational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is composed of the German words "alt," meaning old, and "dorf," meaning village, suggesting that the family’s earliest ancestors were likely residents of a settlement known as Altdorf. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, life in Bavarian villages was deeply tied to agriculture and the local parish church, which served as the primary center for recording births, marriages, and deaths. Families living in these rural communities often identified themselves by the name of their home village, which eventually transitioned into a permanent surname passed down through generations. This naming tradition helped distinguish families as they moved between neighboring towns or sought new opportunities within the Bavarian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alt-Dorf
Old village or ancient settlement derived from Germanic roots.
This name
AltdorfRefers to a person who originated from an old or established village.
also spelled
Altdorff
Altdorfer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen, 1903
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
