A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hilzer family of Germany.
Reg. 6352 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Tranché d'azur sur or; à un griffon de l'un en l'autre, l'aile de devant ch. de deux étoiles d'or, l'une sur l'autre; l'autre ch. d'une étoile d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon, iss.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1806
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Map of Germany showing where the Hilzer arms are recorded
The Hilzer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1806.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Hilzer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Hilzer Family in Germany
The Hilzer family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Bavaria, with documented evidence placing members of the family in the region by 1806. During this period, Bavaria was undergoing a major political transformation as it transitioned from an electorate to a kingdom under the influence of Napoleon. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "hilze," which referred to a wooden handle or a tool grip, suggesting that early ancestors may have been skilled craftsmen or woodworkers. As the family established their lives in the Bavarian countryside, they were part of a society transitioning from feudal traditions to the modern administrative systems of the nineteenth century. These early Hilzers lived through a time of significant upheaval, navigating the changing borders and social reforms that defined the Bavarian state during the Napoleonic era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hilz
A variant of the German word Holz meaning wood or forest.
This name
HilzerAn occupational name for someone who worked in the woods or lived near a forest.
also spelled
Hiltz
Hilze
Hilzer
Hilts
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Direktion (GLD) records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
