A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartwig family of Germany.
Reg. 9893 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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'arg. à un bouquetin naiss. de sa., mouv. de la p.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une sirène à deux queues de carn., empoignant les queues de ses mains. Cq. cour. C.: le bouquetin iss., entre deux prob. d'arg. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
GermanyHan, c. 1765
Where the Hartwig Arms Were Recorded
Han
Map of Germany showing where the Hartwig arms are recorded
The Hartwig arms were recorded in Han, 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 Hartwig 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 Hartwig Family in Germany
The surname Hartwig originates from the ancient Germanic personal name Hardwig, which combines the elements "hard," meaning brave or hardy, and "wig," meaning battle or war. This name was historically popular among Germanic tribes and eventually evolved into a hereditary surname as populations grew and record-keeping became more formal. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in the region of Han, Germany, by at least 1765. During this era, families in rural German territories were often tied closely to the land and local parish communities. The Hartwig family members living in Han were likely part of a stable agricultural or craft-based society, where their name served as a marker of their lineage and their connection to the local community. As the name spread through central Europe, it remained a testament to the martial values of the early Germanic ancestors who first carried it.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hardu-wigan
Derived from Germanic elements meaning brave or hardy and battle or war.
This name
HartwigA name signifying a brave warrior or one who is hardy in battle.
also spelled
Hartwick
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei Han (1765)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
