A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rechsteiner family of Germany.
Reg. 6119 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
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.; embrassé-vivré à dextre d'arg. C.: un chapeau pyramidal d'arg., retr. d'un palé de gu. et d'arg. de huit pièces, et sommé d'un panache de plumes de coq de sa.”
Germanyc. 1725
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Map of Germany showing where the Rechsteiner arms are recorded
The Rechsteiner arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1725.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Rechsteiner 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 Rechsteiner Family in Germany
The surname Rechsteiner is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German words "rech," meaning a roe deer or a rocky slope, and "stein," meaning stone. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent stony landmark or a hillside frequented by deer. By the year 1725, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Bavarian region. During this period, families with this name were often associated with agrarian life or skilled craftsmanship in the rural villages of Southern Germany. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their communities through trade and land cultivation. The name reflects a deep connection to the geography of the landscape, serving as a permanent link to the specific terrain where the family first took root.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rech
Derived from the Middle High German word for a roe deer.
This name
RechsteinerA topographic or occupational name for someone living near or hunting roe deer.
also spelled
Ruchsteyn
Ruchstain
Rookstein
Rukstein
Ruchstine
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
