A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hofler family of Germany.
Reg. 5909 · 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 Hofler arms are recorded
The Hofler 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 Hofler 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 Hofler Family in Germany
The surname Hofler originates from the German region of Bavaria, where it functioned as a topographical or occupational identifier. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "hof," which refers to a farm, a courtyard, or a manor. Historically, the suffix "ler" was added to indicate a person who lived at or worked on such a property. By the time records confirm the presence of the family in Bavaria in 1765, the name was already well-established among rural populations and small landowners. Families with this name were often deeply integrated into the local agricultural economy, serving as the backbone of village life in the southern German states. Over generations, the name evolved from a simple description of a person’s residence into a permanent family identity that was passed down through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hof
A courtyard, farmstead, or manor house.
This name
HoflerRefers to a person who lived at or worked on a farmstead.
also spelled
Hoeflerer
Hoeflar
Hoeflere
Hofler
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
