A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Altrock family of Germany.
Reg. 9090 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à la demi-aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or, mouv. du parti, l'aile ch. d'un demi-cercle treflé d'or, tenant de sa griffe un sceptre du même et ch. sur sa poitrine du chiffre F. H. d'or; au 2 de gu. au lévrier ramp. d'arg., coll. d'or, soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un pélican avec ses petits dans son aire, d'arg., entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre d'arg. sur sa., à sen. de gu. sur arg. L. conformes aux émaux des prob.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1744
Where the Altrock Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Altrock arms are recorded
The Altrock arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1744.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Altrock 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 Altrock Family in Germany
The surname Altrock originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely functioning as a topographic name that described where a family lived. The name is composed of two parts, with "alt" meaning old and "rock" often referring to a rocky outcrop, a cliff, or a stony piece of land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name may have resided near a prominent geological feature or a specific landmark known as the old rock. By the year 1744, members of the Altrock family were well-established in the Mecklenburg region. At this time, Mecklenburg was a territory defined by its rural landscape and a social structure heavily tied to land ownership and agricultural labor. Families like the Altrocks were part of the local community fabric, contributing to the development of these northern German lands through generations of farming and local trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alt-Rock
Old or ancient combined with a rocky outcrop or cliff.
This name
AltrockA topographic name for someone who lived near an ancient or prominent rocky formation.
Related arms
Beichlingsimilar arms
Lauwitzsimilar arms
Netolitzky d'Eisenbergsimilar arms
Scherebzowsimilar arms
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
Landeshauptarchiv Schwerin, Kirchenbücher der mecklenburgischen Landeskirche
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
