A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreyfuss family of Germany.
Reg. 4825 · 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 Dreyfuss Arms Were Recorded
Stuttgart
Map of Germany showing where the Dreyfuss arms are recorded
The Dreyfuss 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 Dreyfuss 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 Dreyfuss Family in Germany
The surname Dreyfuss is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German words "drei" and "fuss," which translate to "three feet." Historians believe this name was likely assigned to individuals who lived near a specific landmark, such as a three-legged structure or a crossroads where three paths met. By the time the family was established in Stuttgart in 1872, the name had become a well-recognized identifier within the local Jewish community. During this era, families often settled in major urban centers like Stuttgart to take advantage of the growing industrial economy and the expanding opportunities for trade and professional work. As the family integrated into the social fabric of the city, they contributed to the vibrant cultural and commercial life that defined late nineteenth-century Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
drie fuss
Three feet or three legs
This name
DreyfussA nickname for a person with a limp or a reference to a three-legged stool 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Stuttgart, Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Stuttgart, 1872
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
