A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Girt family of Germany.
Reg. 0871 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 de sa. à un griffon d'or, soutenu de trois pics de rocher d'arg.; au 2 de gu. à trois barres d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une femme iss. de carn., coiffée d'un bonnet d'arg., sommée à sen. d'une pl. d'aut. de gu.; tenant deux pennons coupés, à dextre de sa. sur or, à sen. de gu. sur arg. L. conformes aux émaux des prob.”
Germanyc. 1785
Where the Girt Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Girt arms are recorded
The Girt arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1785.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in 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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Girt 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 Girt Family in Germany
The family name Girt finds its historical roots in the region of Bavaria during the late 18th century. By 1785, records indicate that members of the Girt family were established within this German territory, likely living in small agrarian communities or craft-based villages. The name itself is thought to be derived from Middle High German terms related to physical stature or specific trade activities, which was a common way to identify individuals in local parish registers at the time. As the family navigated the social and political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, they were likely involved in the traditional labor systems that defined Bavarian life before the turn of the century. Their presence in these historical records suggests a family that was integrated into the local economy and community structure of the era, providing a foundation for the generations that followed.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and hardy or brave.
This name
GirtA shortened form or variant of names beginning with Ger, signifying a brave spearman.
also spelled
Girt dit Gerard
Jirt dit Gerhard
Girt dee Gerhart
Girt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
