A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Baltzer family of Germany.
Reg. 0770 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la croix pattée alésée d'arg. C.: un lion iss. de gu.”
GermanyGiessen, c. 1765
Where the Baltzer Arms Were Recorded
Giessen
Map of Germany showing where the Baltzer arms are recorded
The Baltzer arms were recorded in Giessen, c. 1765.
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 Baltzer 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 Baltzer Family in Germany
The name Baltzer is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Balthasar, which carries the meaning of "protecting the king." During the eighteenth century, the family established a strong presence in the city of Giessen, located in the modern-day German state of Hesse. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Baltzer family were active participants in the social and civic life of this region. At that time, Giessen was a growing university town, and families like the Baltzers were often involved in local trades or municipal administration. The name evolved over generations as it moved through different German-speaking territories, reflecting the common practice of adapting personal names into permanent surnames. This transition helped the family maintain a distinct identity as they navigated the changing political and economic landscape of central Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Belshazzar
May Baal protect the king
This name
BaltzerA German patronymic surname derived from the ancient name Balthasar
also spelled
Baltzere
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Gießen, 1765
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
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cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
