Map of Germany showing where the Krotzer arms are recorded
The Krotzer arms were recorded in Rothenburg Bav, c. 1765.
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 Krotzer 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 Krotzer Family in Germany
The Krotzer family name is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Franconia. Records confirm that members of the family were established in the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber by at least 1765. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "krotze," which historically referred to a specific type of agricultural tool or a person who worked with rough, uneven terrain. During the eighteenth century, families in this area were often tied to the land, and their surname frequently reflected their trade or the specific landscape they cultivated. As residents of a prominent imperial city, the early Krotzers would have been part of a structured society governed by strict guild regulations and local town councils. This period was a time of significant social change in the region, and the family’s presence in Rothenburg suggests they were integrated into the local economy as skilled tradespeople or farmers who helped sustain the town’s growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Krotze
A Middle High German term referring to a toad or frog.
This name
KrotzerAn occupational or descriptive nickname for a person resembling a toad or living near a swampy area.
also spelled
Kretser
Kretzner
Kretz
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Kirchenbücher der Stadtpfarrei St. Jakob
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
