A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Peschka family of Germany.
Reg. 6282 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un senestrochère, arm. d'arg., posé en fasce, la main levée empoignant une masse d'armes d'or en pal, près de la tête, le manche br. sur le bras. Cq. cour. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1710
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Map of Germany showing where the Peschka arms are recorded
The Peschka arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1710.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
1705–1711
Reigning in Germany when the Peschka 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Peschka Family in Germany
The surname Peschka is a diminutive form of the name Peter, which was a common way to identify individuals in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the historical region of Silesia. Records from 1710 show members of the family living in this area, which was a cultural crossroads between modern-day Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. During this period, families in Silesia often worked in agriculture, trade, or local crafts, and their names were frequently recorded in parish registers as they participated in community life. Because the name evolved from a nickname for Peter, it likely spread across the region as families moved between towns to seek new opportunities in farming or mining. This history reflects the broader movement of people across the Silesian landscape during the early modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Petrus
A Greek word meaning stone or rock.
This name
PeschkaA diminutive form of Peter, common in German and Slavic regions.
also spelled
Peschk
Peshke
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich i ewangelickich na Śląsku, 1710
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
