A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buffy family of Germany.
Reg. 5160 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à la cigogne de gu.; le champ chaussé d'azur à deux bes. d'arg.; au 2 d'arg. au pal parti d'or et d'azur ch. d'un besant-tourteau de l'un en l'autre et accosté de deux étoiles de gu. C.: une étoile d'or, entre une ramure de cerf de gu. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
HesseHesse, c. 1579
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Map of Germany showing where the Buffy arms are recorded
The Buffy arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1579.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of 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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Buffy 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 Hesse.
Origin & History of the Buffy Family in Germany
The history of the Buffy family name is rooted in the central German region of Hesse, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1579. During this period, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a localized surname tied to the specific linguistic traditions of the Hessian highlands. Families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where names were passed down to distinguish one household from another. As the family established itself in the local landscape, they became part of the social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire. The survival of these early records suggests that the Buffy family was integrated into the local administrative and parish systems of the late sixteenth century, which helped preserve their identity through generations of regional change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gottfried
Derived from Germanic elements meaning God and peace or protection.
This name
BuffyA diminutive form of Elizabeth or a nickname for someone with a youthful or playful personality.
also spelled
Buffe
Buff-de
Buff-von
Buf
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Bestand 300 (Reichskammergericht)
Karl E. Demandt, Regesten der Grafen von Katzenelnbogen 1060–1486, 1953
Hessisches Landesamt für geschichtliche Landeskunde, Geschichtlicher Atlas von Hessen, 1960
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
