A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreyfus family of Germany.
Reg. 0993 · 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 Dreyfus Arms Were Recorded
Stuttgart
Map of Germany showing where the Dreyfus arms are recorded
The Dreyfus 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 Dreyfus 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 Dreyfus Family in Germany
The surname Dreyfus is primarily of Germanic origin and is deeply rooted in the history of the Jewish communities of the Upper Rhine region. The name is derived from the Middle High German words "drei" and "fuss," which translate to "three feet." Historians believe this name likely originated as a house sign or a descriptive nickname for a family living in a residence marked by a specific symbol. By the time the family established a documented presence in Stuttgart in 1872, the name had already been carried across several generations of merchants and professionals throughout southwestern Germany and the Alsace region. As the family integrated into the urban life of Stuttgart during the late nineteenth century, they participated in the broader social and economic shifts occurring within the German Empire. The name remains a significant marker of a lineage that navigated the complex cultural transitions of central Europe over several centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drei Fuss
Three feet or a tripod stand.
This name
DreyfusRefers to a house sign featuring a tripod or a three-legged stool.
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
Kohn, David. Die Geschichte der Juden in Stuttgart. 1913
horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
