A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreifus family of Germany.
Reg. 9678 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois chevaux cabrés de sa. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss. de sa. S.: deux chevaux de sa. D.: GANZ ODER GAR NICHT.”
GermanyStuttgart, c. 1872
Where the Dreifus Arms Were Recorded
Stuttgart
Map of Germany showing where the Dreifus arms are recorded
The Dreifus arms were recorded in Stuttgart, c. 1872.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Dreifus arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Dreifus Family in Germany
The name Dreifus is a variation of the German word Dreifuss, which literally translates to tripod or three-footed. Historically, this name was often used as a topographic surname for people who lived in houses marked by specific signs or symbols, or it served as a descriptive name for individuals who used a three-legged stool in their trade. By the late 19th century, the family established a notable presence in Stuttgart, a city that was rapidly transforming into a major industrial and cultural hub within the German Empire. Records from 1872 confirm that members of the family were integrated into the urban life of this region during a time of significant economic growth. As the family settled in Stuttgart, they became part of the local community, contributing to the professional and social fabric of the city as it modernized during the late 1800s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drei Fuss
German for three feet or a tripod structure.
This name
DreifusA topographic name for someone living at a house marked by a tripod sign.
also spelled
Dreyfuss
Dryfus
Dreyfus
Dreifus
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Stadtarchiv Stuttgart, Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Stuttgart, 1872
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
