A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Görlitz family of Germany.
Reg. 3660 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
axeThe execution of military duty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 de sa. à un demi-vol d'or; au 2 d'or à deux haches d'arg., emm. au nat., passées en saut. Cq. cour. C.: une hache de l'écu, posée en bande, le fer en bas. L. d'or et de sa. S.: deux aigles de sa., bq. et m. d'or.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1765
Where the Görlitz Arms Were Recorded
Wurttemberg
Map of Germany showing where the Görlitz arms are recorded
The Görlitz arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1765.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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 Görlitz 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 Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Görlitz Family in Germany
The family name Görlitz is a locative surname, which means it was originally derived from the place where a person lived or originated. The name is tied to the town of Görlitz, located in the historical region of Upper Lusatia near the modern border of Germany and Poland. During the Middle Ages, people often adopted the name of their hometown as a way to identify themselves when moving to new regions. By the mid-18th century, members of the family had migrated westward into the region of Württemberg. Records from 1765 confirm that the family was well-established in this area, likely having moved there to seek new opportunities in agriculture or local trades. This migration reflects the broader patterns of internal movement within German-speaking lands during the 1700s, as families sought stability in the fertile valleys and growing towns of the southwest.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Zgorzelec
A place of burning or clearing land by fire.
This name
GörlitzRefers to a person who originated from the city of Görlitz.
also spelled
Gorlits
Gerlitz
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Bestand A 206 (General-Landesarchiv Karlsruhe)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
axeThe execution of military duty
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
axeThe execution of military duty
