A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hitz family of Germany.
Reg. 8572 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'azur à une flèche d'arg., empennée d'or, en pal, adextrée d'un soleil d'or et senestrée d'un croiss. figuré tourné du même; ladite flèche soutenue d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: un demi-vol, aux armes de l'écu. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyCoire, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Hitz arms are recorded
The Hitz arms were recorded in Coire, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Hitz 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 Hitz Family in Germany
The family name Hitz has deep roots in the southern German regions, particularly within the historic lands of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Hitz family were well-established residents in this area. The name itself is thought to have originated as a short form of Germanic given names, such as those beginning with the element "Hilt," which relates to the concept of battle or strength. Over time, these abbreviated nicknames became fixed as hereditary surnames as populations grew and local authorities began tracking families more closely for tax and census purposes. Living in Bavaria during the 1760s, these early ancestors likely worked as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of their villages. As they moved through the generations, the Hitz name became a permanent marker of their regional identity and their place within the social structure of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hizo
An Old High German short form of names containing the element hild.
This name
HitzA patronymic or nickname derived from a short form of Germanic names meaning battle or strife.
also spelled
Hitze
Hitzer
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
