A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Golz family of Germany.
Reg. 5999 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion naiss. d'or, celut du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un faucon au nat., supp. de sa patte levée une bague du champ, châtonnée d'un rubis: le faucon du 3 cont. Quatre cq. cour. C.: 1° le faucon du 3; 2° trois pl. d'aut.: d'or, de gu. et d'azur; 3° un bras arm., tenant une épée, le tout au nat.; 4° le lion du 4. L. d'or et d'azur. D.: VITA ET SANGUINE.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Golz Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Golz arms are recorded
The Golz arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Golz 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 Golz Family in Germany
The surname Golz is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with records confirming the presence of the family in Bavaria by 1765. The name is considered a topographic descriptor, likely originating from the Middle High German word golz, which referred to a specific type of stony or barren ground. Families living near such terrain often adopted the name to distinguish themselves within their local communities. During the eighteenth century, the Golz family members in Bavaria were primarily integrated into the agrarian society of the region, working as skilled farmers or tradespeople who helped shape the rural economy. As they moved through the generations, these early ancestors established deep ties to their local parishes and village structures, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and steady growth in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gol
A Slavic term referring to someone who is bare or naked.
This name
GolzA topographic or descriptive surname likely denoting a person who was impoverished or lived on barren land.
also spelled
Golz
Golts
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lionCourage, strength and royalty
falconOne eager and quick in pursuit
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
