A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoefler family of Germany.
Reg. 0200 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à la fasce d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles d'or; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un griffon d'or, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un griffon iss. d'or, tenant de sa patte dextre une épée et supp. de sa sen. une étoile d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Hoefler arms are recorded
The Hoefler arms were recorded in Germany, 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 Hoefler 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 Hoefler Family in Germany
The surname Hoefler originates from the German word Hof, which refers to a farm, a courtyard, or a small estate. Historically, the name served as a topographic identifier for individuals who lived on or managed a farmstead. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well established in the Bavarian region. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Hoefler family were active participants in the agricultural and social life of these southern German communities. Because the name is rooted in the common language of the time, it likely emerged independently in various villages as a way to distinguish local farmers from their neighbors. Over generations, the name became a permanent family identifier that reflected the deep connection these ancestors held to the land they cultivated.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hof
An enclosed courtyard, farmstead, or manor house.
This name
HoeflerA person who lived or worked on a small farm or manor.
also spelled
Hoeflerer
Hoeflar
Hoeflere
Hofler
Related arms
Cronhjelmsimilar arms
Haeck-Steenhartsimilar arms
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
