A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dosso family of Germany.
Reg. 9818 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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'azur à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois roses de gu. C.: une queue de paon au nat., de deux rangs de plumes, mouv. d'un rang de trois roses de gu.; le tout entre deux prob., celle à dextre tiercée en barre de gu., d'azur et d'arg., celle à sen. tiercée en bande d'arg., de gu. et d'azur. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Dosso arms are recorded
The Dosso arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Dosso 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Dosso Family in Germany
The history of the Dosso family is deeply rooted in the historical region of Pomerania, where records confirm their presence as early as 1765. During this period, Pomerania was a dynamic territory shaped by shifting borders and agricultural expansion under the Kingdom of Prussia. Families like the Dossos often lived in rural communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or trade. Because surnames were becoming more standardized during the eighteenth century, the name likely emerged from a specific geographic location or a descriptive nickname used to identify family members within their village. As they settled into these Pomeranian lands, the family became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the challenges of life in a changing Central Europe. Their early history reflects the broader movement of families who established deep roots in the Prussian countryside during the mid-eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dorso
Latin term referring to the back or a ridge of land.
This name
DossoA topographic name for someone who lived near a ridge or hill.
also spelled
Dosow
Dossau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brückner, Alexander. Die Europäisierung Russlands: Land und Volk. 1888
State Archive in Szczecin (Archiwum Państwowe w Szczecinie), Kirchenbücher der Provinz Pommern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.