A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burghoff family of Germany.
Reg. 0345 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
helmetWisdom and security in defence
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un château d'arg., sommé d'une tour crén., et flanqué de deux tours couvertes du même, le château ouv. du champ; au 2 d'azur à une cuirasse d'arg.; au 3 d'azur à un dextrochère, arm. au nat., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en barre. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: le dextrochère du 3, posé sur le coude. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1798
Where the Burghoff Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Burghoff arms are recorded
The Burghoff arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1798.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Burghoff 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 Burghoff Family in Germany
The name Burghoff is a topographic surname that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German words "burg," meaning a fortified town or castle, and "hof," which refers to a farmstead or courtyard. Families who carried this name were likely identified by their residence near a local castle or a protected manor. By the late 18th century, records confirm that members of the Burghoff family were established in the Bavarian region. During this period, Bavaria was a center of agricultural and social change, and families with this name were often integrated into the local community life of the countryside. The name served as a practical way to distinguish individuals based on their proximity to significant landmarks, reflecting the common naming customs of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg and Hof
Fortified settlement or castle and a courtyard or farmstead.
This name
BurghoffRefers to someone who lived at or managed a farmstead near a fortified castle.
also spelled
Burghof
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
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
helmetWisdom and security in defence
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
helmetWisdom and security in defence
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
