A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Neu family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7344 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
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)
“Tranché d'azur sur gu.; à la bande d'arg., br. sur le tranché et ch. de trois croiss. d'or, les cornes dirigées vers l'angle dextre. Brl. d'arg. et d'azur. C.: une étoile d'or, soutenue d'un croiss. montant du même. L. d'azur et d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Neu Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Neu arms are recorded
The Neu arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Neu 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Neu Family in Germany
The surname Neu is a classic example of a descriptive German name that emerged from the common language of the Middle Ages. In German, the word "neu" translates to "new," and it was originally used as a nickname to identify a newcomer to a village or a person who had recently settled in a specific area. By the time records place the family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had long since transitioned from a simple descriptor into a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a region defined by agricultural traditions and tight-knit rural communities, where families often stayed in the same parish for centuries. The presence of the Neu family in this region suggests they were part of the established local population, likely working as farmers or skilled tradespeople who helped sustain the economy of the Bavarian countryside. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of their local towns, contributing to the cultural and historical development of Southern Germany during a time of significant transition.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'arg. à trois croiss. d'or, les cornes dirigées vers l'angle dextre du chef, rangées en bande entre deux bandes, la première de gu. et l'autre d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, le rayon supérieur sommé d'une flamme de gu.; entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'arg. sur azur. L. conformes aux émaux des prob.”
Austriac. 1614
Where the Neu Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Neu arms are recorded
The Neu arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1614.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1614
Granting Authority for the Neu Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
1612–1619
Reigning in Germany when the Neu arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Neu Family in Austria
The family name Neu traces its roots in Austria to the rugged landscapes of the Tyrol region, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1614. The name itself is derived from the German word for new, which often served as a descriptive label for individuals who were recent arrivals to a specific village or town. In the social structure of seventeenth-century Tyrol, this name likely identified families who had moved to new land clearings or settled in expanding mountain communities. These early ancestors were part of the hardworking alpine population that navigated the challenges of living in the high valleys. By settling in this region, the Neu family became integrated into the local agricultural and social life of the Austrian Alps, contributing to the development of their community over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
niuwi
Old High German term meaning new or fresh.
This name
NeuA topographic or habitational name for someone who lived in a newly settled area.
also spelled
Neue
Neuu
Noy
Related arms
Agricolasimilar arms
Wasasimilar 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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
