A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Falter family of Germany.
Reg. 6482 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 tiercé en pal de gu., d'arg. et de gu.; au 2 de gu. à deux cantons d'arg., l'un à dextre et l'autre à sen. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu.”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Falter arms are recorded
The Falter arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, c. 1765.
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 Falter 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 Falter Family in Germany
The surname Falter originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational or topographic name. Etymologically, the name is linked to the Middle High German word "valter," which often referred to a person who handled or traded in textiles, specifically those involved in folding or pleating fabrics. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that the family had established a notable presence in Ratisbonne, which is known today as Regensburg. During this era, families in this historic city were often integrated into the local guild systems or merchant classes that defined the economic life of the Holy Roman Empire. The presence of the Falter name in Ratisbonne by 1765 suggests that early ancestors were likely part of the urban middle class, contributing to the vibrant trade and administrative activities of this significant Bavarian river port.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Falter
Middle High German word for butterfly or moth.
This name
FalterAn occupational nickname for a person who moved restlessly or a topographic name for someone living near a butterfly-shaped field.
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
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
