A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ranft family of Germany.
Reg. 9453 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un cygne d'arg., cour. d'or, le vol levé, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à deux chev. d'arg. A une fasce partie, br. sur l'écartelé: a. d'or à trois pals de gu.; b. fascé de sa. et d'or, de quatre pièces. Sur le tout d'azur à un lévrier ramp. d'arg., coll. et bouclé d'or, soutenu d'un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le lévrier, iss., entre un vol, l'aile dextre fascée d'or et de gu. de quatre pièces, l'aile sen. fascée d'or et de sa. de quatre pièces. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Ranft arms are recorded
The Ranft 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 Ranft 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 Ranft Family in Germany
The family name Ranft originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep historical roots tied to the rugged landscapes of Bavaria. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that members of the Ranft family were established residents in this region, living through a period of significant social and agricultural change. The name itself is thought to be a topographic surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "ranft," which referred to the edge, border, or crust of a piece of land. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry the name were likely farmers or settlers who lived on the outskirts of a village or near the boundary of a forest. As these families grew and moved throughout the Bavarian countryside in the years following 1765, they became part of the traditional fabric of rural German life, contributing to the local economy and community development for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ranft
A Middle High German term referring to a border, edge, or crust.
This name
RanftOriginally a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary, edge, or riverbank.
also spelled
Ranft
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien, Steuer- und Katasterunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
