Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au chev. ployé d'or.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hantz family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au chev. ployé d'or.”
The Hantz arms were recorded in Strasbourg, c. 1663.
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.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The Hantz family name has deep roots in the Alsace region of France, particularly within the city of Strasbourg. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established residents in this historic crossroads of European culture. During the seventeenth century, Strasbourg was a place where French and Germanic influences blended together, creating a unique environment for families to grow and trade. The name likely evolved from local naming traditions in the Upper Rhine area, where short, descriptive names were common among the working and merchant classes. As the family put down roots in the city, they became part of the local urban fabric, likely participating in the skilled crafts or commerce that defined Strasbourg at the time. Their presence in the city during this period suggests they were integrated into a society that valued stability and community connections during a time of significant political change in the region.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Éc.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à la fasce de gu., ch. de trois coquilles d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., cour. d'or, mouv. du parti. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa., cour. d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
The Hantz arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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.
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
The Hantz family name has deep roots in the Swiss region of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the mid-eighteenth century. During this era, the social structure of Bern was heavily influenced by the local guilds and the agricultural traditions of the surrounding countryside. Families like the Hantz clan often played vital roles in these tight-knit communities by working as skilled tradespeople or managing local landholdings. Because Switzerland was organized into a confederation of cantons, families often remained in the same geographic area for generations, which allowed the Hantz name to become firmly woven into the local history of the region. By 1745, the family was already part of the established population, contributing to the daily economic and civic life that defined the Swiss landscape during the Enlightenment period.
A diminutive form of Johannes meaning God is gracious.

