A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kretzschmar family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à la barre d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de sa.”
The Kretzschmar arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1791.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Reigning in Germany when the Kretzschmar arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Kretzschmar originates from the historical region of Saxony in Germany and is deeply rooted in the medieval social structure of the area. The name is derived from the Middle High German word *kretzschmer*, which was a term used to describe a village innkeeper or a person who operated a local tavern. In many Saxon villages, the inn served as the central hub for community life, legal meetings, and trade, making the innkeeper a prominent and respected figure. By the time your ancestors were documented in Saxony in 1791, the name had been established for centuries as a professional designation that eventually transitioned into a permanent family surname. As the family grew, they became part of the agricultural and artisanal fabric of the Saxon landscape, reflecting the long-standing tradition of families being identified by their specific trade within their local parish.
A person who operates a small village tavern or inn.
