A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dolder family of Germany.
Reg. 5762 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 la fasce de gu., acc. de sept los. d'azur, 4 en chef et 3 en p. C.: un demi-vol d'arg.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Dolder Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Dolder arms are recorded
The Dolder arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Dolder 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Dolder Family in Germany
The surname Dolder originates from the historical region of Swabia, a territory that once spanned parts of southwestern Germany and Switzerland. By the year 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established within these communities. The name itself is likely topographic or occupational in nature, often linked to the Middle High German word "dol," which referred to a valley or a low-lying area. People living near such geographic features were frequently identified by their surroundings, leading to the adoption of the name as a way to distinguish individuals in growing rural populations. As these families moved through the Swabian landscape, they integrated into the local agricultural and artisanal economies, helping to shape the social fabric of the region during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dol
A Middle High German term referring to a valley or hollow.
This name
DolderA topographic name for someone who lived in a valley or a low-lying area.
also spelled
Dolder
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung, 2005
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Bestand A 206: Kreisarchiv Schwäbisch Hall, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
