A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hauf family of Germany.
Reg. 8294 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'or à un homme iss., hab. de sa., mouv. d'un mur crén. d'arg., maconné de sa., et tenant de sa main sen. étendue un épi d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme iss. L. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyNördlingen Bav, c. 1765
Where the Hauf Arms Were Recorded
Nördlingen
Map of Germany showing where the Hauf arms are recorded
The Hauf arms were recorded in Nördlingen Bav, 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 Hauf 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 Hauf Family in Germany
The family name Hauf originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it likely developed as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific occupation. In the Middle High German language, the term "houf" or "hauf" often referred to a heap, a pile, or a gathering of people, suggesting that the original bearer may have lived near a prominent mound or served as a leader of a group. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Hauf family was well-established in the historic imperial city of Nördlingen. Records from 1765 confirm their presence in this town, which was a significant center for trade and craftsmanship during that era. Families in Nördlingen at this time were often deeply integrated into the local guild systems, meaning the Haufs likely contributed to the town’s reputation for skilled labor and civic stability. Over the generations, the name became a permanent fixture of the local community, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined life in the Swabian region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haufe
A heap, pile, or a gathering of people.
This name
HaufA topographic name for someone living near a mound or a nickname for a member of a group.
also spelled
Haufe
Hauff
Haufz
Howf
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Stadtarchiv Nördlingen, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Nördlingen
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
