A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dittrich family of Germany.
Reg. 6224 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
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)
“D'arg. à une ancre de gu. Cq. cour. C.: une femme de carn., se balançant sur la pointe du pied dextre et tenant une voile d'or au-dessus de sa tête; entre un vol de gu.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Dittrich Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Dittrich arms are recorded
The Dittrich 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 Dittrich 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 Dittrich Family in Germany
The surname Dittrich is a German variant of the ancient Germanic name Dietrich, which is composed of the roots for "people" and "ruler." This name became popular across Central Europe during the Middle Ages, often carried by nobility and commoners alike. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a firm presence in the region of Silesia. Historical records confirm that members of the Dittrich family were living there by 1765, a time when the area was undergoing significant political and social changes under Prussian rule. Families with this name often worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local officials in the rural villages of the Silesian countryside. As the population moved and expanded throughout the 18th century, the name became a common identifier for those living in the borderlands between modern-day Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Theodoricus
Derived from Germanic elements meaning people and ruler.
This name
DittrichA German patronymic surname signifying a descendant of a powerful ruler of the people.
also spelled
Dittrick
Dittriche
Ditrik
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
