A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Folk family of Germany.
Reg. 0407 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 parti d'or et de gu., à un homme iss., br. sur le parti, posé de profil, hab. de l'un en l'autre, bout. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet à l'antique du même, tenant une hallebarde d'arg. et mouv. d'un mur crén. du même, occupant la moitié inférieure de l'écu. C.: l'homme, iss. L. d'or et d'azur”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Folk arms are recorded
The Folk 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 Folk 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 Folk Family in Germany
The surname Folk traces its roots back to the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely originated as a descriptive name derived from the Old High German word *folc*, meaning people or folk. This suggests that the name may have been used to identify a person who was a member of a specific community or perhaps someone who held a leadership role among the common people. By 1765, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Ratisbonne, which is the French name for the city of Regensburg in Bavaria. During this period, the city served as a vital political and cultural hub within the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this region were often deeply connected to the local trade guilds or the administrative functions of the city, placing the Folk family in a dynamic environment during a time of significant European transition.
Folk Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Volk
Germanic term referring to the common people or a tribe.
This name
FolkA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived among the common people or a community.
also spelled
Volck
Folck
Folk
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
Stadtarchiv Regensburg, Bürgeraufnahmen und Zunftprotokolle der Stadt Regensburg, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
