A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Reutter family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3275 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti d'arg. et de sa., à trois étoiles, 2 et 1, de l'un à l'autre; acc. en p. d'un croiss. d'or, br. sur le parti. C.: une fleur-de-lis partie de sa. et d'arg. (ou un croiss. d'or, supp. une étoile de sa.), entre un vol, de sa. et d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile de l'un à l'autre.”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Reutter arms are recorded
The Reutter arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, 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 Reutter 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 Reutter Family in Germany
The surname Reutter is deeply rooted in the linguistic and social landscape of medieval Germany, originating as a descriptive occupational name. Derived from the Middle High German word *riuter*, the name was historically used to identify someone who served as a mounted soldier or a traveler on horseback. By the time the family established a documented presence in Ratisbonne, known today as Regensburg, in 1765, the name had evolved from a simple job title into a stable hereditary surname. During this era, Regensburg served as a vital political and commercial hub within the Holy Roman Empire, and families like the Reutters were often integrated into the city’s active trade guilds or administrative circles. This transition from a mobile, military-oriented identity to a settled urban existence reflects the broader patterns of social development in German-speaking lands during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à une étoile de sa.; au 2 d'or à deux fasces d'arg.; au 3 fascé de gu. et d'arg.; au 4 de sa. à une étoile d'arg. A une étoile de sa., br. en abime sur les écartelures, et un croiss. figuré d'or, br. en p. sur le parti. Cq. cour. C.: un lion d'or, cour. du même, assis de front, ch. sur la poitrine d'une étoile de sa.; entre un vol, de sa. et d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile de l'un à l'autre. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Reutter arms are recorded
The Reutter arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
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
1772
Granting Authority for the Reutter Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Reutter 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 Reutter Family in Austria
The surname Reutter has deep roots in the Alpine regions of Austria, particularly within the rugged landscape of Tyrol. Etymologically, the name is derived from the Middle High German word *riuter*, which historically referred to a person who cleared forests to create new farmland. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely industrious pioneers who settled in the mountainous terrain by carving out homesteads from the dense wilderness. By the year 1772, records confirm that the Reutter family was well-established in Tyrol, participating in the local agricultural and social life of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the backbone of rural Austrian society, adapting to the challenging climate and isolation of the high valleys. Their history reflects a long tradition of resilience and manual labor that defined the lives of many families living in the Austrian Alps during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
reuten
to clear land or to root out
This name
ReutterA person who cleared forest land for agricultural use or a settler.
also spelled
Reuter
Reutther
Reuttr
Roiter
Reiter
Related arms
Reutervariant spelling
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
Stadtarchiv Regensburg, Bürgeraufnahme- und Zunftprotokolle
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
