A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flatow family of Germany.
Reg. 3356 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à une poignée de luth de sa., posée en pal, ayant six vis d'or. C.: deux objets pareils à celui de l'écu, posés en chev. renv.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
Where the Flatow Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Flatow arms are recorded
The Flatow arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Flatow 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Flatow Family in Germany
The surname Flatow is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from the town of Flatow in the historical region of West Prussia. In the German language, the name is closely tied to the Slavic word "blato," which refers to a swamp or a marshy area. By the mid-18th century, members of the family were well-established in the Pomeranian region, which was a hub for trade and migration during that era. Because the town of Flatow served as a significant administrative and commercial center, families who lived there often adopted the town’s name to identify their place of origin when they traveled or settled elsewhere. This practice was common among both Jewish and Christian families in the region, as it helped distinguish individuals based on their ancestral home. As the family moved throughout Prussia and beyond, the name remained a permanent link to their roots in the Pomeranian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Flat
A Germanic or Slavic term referring to flat, level, or open land.
This name
FlatowA topographic surname denoting someone who lived on or near a flat plain.
also spelled
Flatov
Flatau
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kühnel, Paul. Die slavischen Ortsnamen in Meklenburg-Schwerin. 1881
Zoder, Rudolf. Familiennamen in Ostfalen. 1968
State Archive in Greifswald (Landesarchiv Greifswald), General-Tabellen der preußischen Provinzen. 1765
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
harpWell-tuned governance and love of music
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
harpWell-tuned governance and love of music
