A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Getz family of Germany.
Reg. 2285 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au pal d'or, ch. de quatre roses de gu. C.: une croix de coquerelles de sa., fleurdelisée d'arg. aux extrémités; entre un vol de sa., l'aile dextre ch. d'une barre d'or et l'aile sen. d'une”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Getz Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Getz arms are recorded
The Getz arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Getz 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 Getz Family in Germany
The family name Getz is a German surname that evolved from the medieval personal name Godezo, which served as a shortened form of names beginning with the Germanic element "god," meaning god or good. By the mid-18th century, the family was firmly established in the historic city of Nuremberg, a major center for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. During this era, Nuremberg was known for its strict guild systems and highly skilled artisans, suggesting that ancestors living there in 1765 were likely part of the city's industrious middle class. As the name spread through German-speaking regions, it was often recorded in various spellings depending on local dialects and the phonetic habits of regional scribes. Over time, the family name became a permanent marker of this lineage, reflecting both the linguistic traditions of early Germanic naming conventions and the urban stability found in cities like Nuremberg.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godehard
Derived from the Germanic elements for god and hardy or brave.
This name
GetzA patronymic surname originating as a short form of names beginning with the element god.
also spelled
Goets
Getz
Gets
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cross symbolChristian faith and service
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
