A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartzheim family of Germany.
Reg. 4864 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec. en saut. de gu. et d'or. C.: un vol, de gu. et d'or.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Hartzheim Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Hartzheim arms are recorded
The Hartzheim arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Hartzheim 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Hartzheim Family in Germany
The surname Hartzheim is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. The name is derived from the German words "Hartz," which refers to a forest or a wooded area, and "Heim," which means home or settlement. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived in or near a wooded homestead in the Rhineland or Westphalia regions. By 1765, records confirm that the family was well-established in Westphalia, a region known for its dense forests and agricultural history. During this period, families often took their names from the geography of their land to distinguish themselves from others in the same village. As the family grew, they remained closely tied to the rural traditions of the area, working the land and contributing to the local community structure that defined life in eighteenth-century Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hard-heim
A dwelling place located on hard or firm ground.
This name
HartzheimRefers to a person who lived at a settlement situated on solid or stony terrain.
also spelled
Hartzheym
Hartzheime
Hartzheymm
Hartsheim
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Provinzen, 1765
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
