A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beltz family of Germany.
Reg. 9496 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au coq d'or, posé sur un huchet du même. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Beltz Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Beltz arms are recorded
The Beltz arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of arms.
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 Beltz 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Beltz Family in Germany
The family name Beltz has deep roots in the Franconia region of Germany, where members of the family were firmly established by 1765. The name is generally categorized as a topographic or occupational surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word "beltz," which referred to a furrier or someone who worked with animal pelts. During the eighteenth century, the people bearing this name were often integrated into the local agricultural or artisanal communities that defined the Franconian landscape. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire, navigating the complex regional politics and shifting borders of the era. By settling in this specific area, the early Beltz family members contributed to the development of local trade and village life, leaving behind a legacy that is still reflected in the regional records of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Belt
A Middle High German term referring to a belt or girdle.
This name
BeltzAn occupational name for a maker or seller of belts and leather straps.
also spelled
Belts
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Nürnberg, Reichsstadt Nürnberg, Grundherrschafts- und Untertanenverzeichnisse, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
