A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ertz family of Germany.
Reg. 2171 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. au lion léopardé d'arg.; au 2 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'arg., entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'azur sur or, à sen. d'arg. sur gu. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1772
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Map of Germany showing where the Ertz arms are recorded
The Ertz arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in 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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Ertz 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Ertz Family in Germany
The family name Ertz traces its roots to the southern regions of Germany, specifically within the historical landscape of Bavaria. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name itself is often linked to the Middle High German word "erze," which historically referred to someone who worked with ore or served as a miner. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a hub for small-scale mining and agricultural trade, suggesting that early ancestors likely played a role in the local economy of the Alpine foothills. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of rural Bavarian villages, where they lived as craftsmen or landowners. This connection to the land and the regional industries of the time helped define the family identity long before modern record-keeping practices became standardized across Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for honor and hardy or brave.
This name
ErtzA patronymic surname originating as a short form of names like Erhard.
also spelled
Sert
Sertze
Sertzz
Serts
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchführung
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
