A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eichholz family of Germany.
Reg. 0370 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à une tour sommée de trois tourelles de gu., celle du milieu sommée d'un croiss. du même. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Eichholz Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Eichholz arms are recorded
The Eichholz arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Eichholz 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Eichholz Family in Germany
The family name Eichholz is a topographic surname that originated in German-speaking regions, derived from the words "Eiche" meaning oak and "Holz" meaning wood or forest. This name was typically given to individuals who lived near a prominent oak forest or worked in the timber trade. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Eichholz family were well-established in the region of Silesia. During this era, Silesia was a diverse territory undergoing significant social and economic changes under Prussian rule. Families like the Eichholzes often settled in rural or semi-rural areas where they contributed to the local agricultural or forestry economies. As the name spread through the region, it became a marker of those who had deep ancestral ties to the wooded landscapes of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eiche and Holz
Oak tree and wood or forest
This name
EichholzRefers to someone who lived near or worked in an oak forest.
also spelled
Eichholz
Eikholts
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archives in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
