Map of Germany showing where the Dathe arms are recorded
The Dathe arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Dathe 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Dathe Family in Germany
The surname Dathe is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Saxony, where records confirm the family was well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name is considered a patronymic, which means it likely evolved as a shortened or regional variation of the Germanic name Dietmar or a similar name beginning with the element "diet," meaning people or folk. During the 1700s, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local trades, and the name would have been passed down through generations as the family integrated into the social fabric of Saxon villages. Because the region was a hub for trade and cultural exchange, the Dathe family likely lived through significant shifts in local governance and economic life as Saxony transitioned through the Enlightenment era. By 1765, the name was already a distinct identifier for a family that had likely resided in the area for several generations, reflecting the steady development of middle-class identities in German-speaking lands.
Dathe Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Dietrich
Derived from the Germanic elements for people and ruler.
This name
DatheA diminutive or shortened form of names beginning with the element meaning people.
also spelled
Dathee
Dathey
Datay
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
