A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fogt family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3757 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 éc. d'arg. au lion de sa., celui du 1 cont., et d'arg. au lion de sa., celui du 3 cont.; au 2 de gu. (ou d'arg.) plein. C.: une queue de paon au nat.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Fogt Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Fogt arms are recorded
The Fogt arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Fogt 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Fogt Family in Germany
The surname Fogt originates from the Middle High German word *voget*, which served as an official title for a protector, advocate, or a secular administrator of church lands. In the medieval period, a person holding this title acted as a representative of a nobleman or a religious institution, often overseeing legal matters and tax collection within a specific territory. By the time the family was documented in the Westphalia region in 1765, the name had transitioned from a formal job title into a hereditary surname used to identify members of the community. Families bearing this name were typically integrated into the local social structure of the German states, often living as farmers or tradespeople who maintained ties to the land. Over several generations, the name became a permanent marker of the family’s identity, reflecting a history rooted in the administrative traditions of the Holy Roman Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
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 une échelle au nat., posée en pal, la parti supérieure ailée de sa. C.: un vol de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Fogt Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Fogt arms are recorded
The Fogt arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Fogt Family in Switzerland
The surname Fogt, a variant of the German term *Vogt*, carries a deep history rooted in the administrative structures of medieval and early modern Switzerland. Historically, the name functioned as a title for a royal official or a steward who managed land and legal affairs on behalf of a lord. By the time the family was firmly established in the city of Bâle by 1745, the name had transitioned from a formal job description into a hereditary surname. During this era, Bâle was a thriving center of trade and intellectual life, and families bearing this name were often integrated into the urban fabric of the city. As members of the local community, they participated in the guild-based society that defined Swiss life at the time. This transition from a professional title to a family name reflects the broader social changes occurring in the Swiss cantons as they moved away from feudal systems toward more structured urban governance.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vogt
A medieval administrative official or steward representing a lord.
This name
FogtAn occupational surname for a bailiff, advocate, or local magistrate.
also spelled
Voght
Fogt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen, geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen. Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Gemeinden
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
ladderAmbition, and a fearless assault
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
