A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Blacha family of Germany.
Reg. 7699 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
helmetWisdom and security in defence
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de gu., à deux fleurs-de-lis de l'un à l'autre; et une flèche en pal, de l'un en l'autre, br. sur le parti. Point de cimier, mais le grillage du casque traversé d'une flèche de gu. en barre, la pointe en haut.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Blacha Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Blacha arms are recorded
The Blacha arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Blacha 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Blacha Family in Germany
The family name Blacha has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. The name itself is derived from the Slavic word for sheet metal or tin, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely worked as tinsmiths or metalworkers. In the eighteenth century, it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their specific trade or craft to distinguish themselves within their local communities. As these individuals settled in the Silesian landscape, they became part of a hardworking artisan class that helped support the regional economy. Over many generations, the name transitioned from a simple occupational description into a permanent family identity that was passed down to descendants throughout the area.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Blach
A Middle High German term referring to a sheet of metal.
This name
BlachaAn occupational surname for a tinsmith or a worker who produced metal plates.
also spelled
Blaka
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
helmetWisdom and security in defence
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
helmetWisdom and security in defence
