A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Katz family of Germany.
Reg. 0696 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
foxWit and wisdom in defence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Quarterly, 1st, or, a lion ramp. az.; 2nd, az; 3rd purp. on a mount vert a tree ppr.; 4th, ar. on a mount in base vert a fox springing ppr”
GermanyGermany, c. 1765
Where the Katz Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Katz arms are recorded
The Katz 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 Katz 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 Katz Family in Germany
The family name Katz is a well-known Jewish surname that serves as an acronym for the Hebrew phrase *Kohen Tzedek*, which translates to "priest of righteousness." This title was historically used to identify individuals who belonged to the priestly class, known as the Kohanim, who claimed direct descent from the biblical Aaron. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become a hereditary surname passed down through generations. During this period in Southern Germany, Jewish families were often required by local authorities to adopt permanent surnames for tax and census purposes. As the family established their roots in the Bavarian region, they integrated into the local community while maintaining the religious and cultural identity associated with their ancestral name.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kohen Tzedek
A righteous priest serving in the Jewish temple.
This name
KatzAn acronym derived from the Hebrew title for a righteous priest.
also spelled
Kats
Related arms
Barkerollesrecorded with Katz, same area
Berkaerecorded with Katz, same area
Deychelerrecorded with Katz, same area
Hornrecorded with Katz, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Lars Menk, A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames, 2005
Alexander Beider, A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire, 2008
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
foxWit and wisdom in defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
foxWit and wisdom in defence
