A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Roth family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 3463 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
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 la bande d'arg., ch. de trois roses du champ. C.: une femme moresque iss., de profil, cour. de roses de gu., coiffée d'un voile du même; tenant trois roses de gu., attachées à une seule tige de sin., feuillée du même.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1557
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Map of Germany showing where the Roth arms are recorded
The Roth arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1557.
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.
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
1556–1564
Reigning in Germany when the Roth 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 Roth Family in Germany
The surname Roth is a classic example of a descriptive German name that originated during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "rot," which means red. In the context of early German society, this name was typically used as a nickname for a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1557, the name had transitioned from a simple nickname into a stable hereditary surname. During this era, Bavaria was a region defined by agricultural growth and the influence of the Holy Roman Empire. Families like the Roths were often part of the rising class of townspeople or landholding farmers who helped shape the local economy. As the name spread across German-speaking lands, it became a common identifier for families who lived in or near areas cleared of forest, as the word also relates to the process of land clearing known as "roden."
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 une rose de gu., bout. d'or, tigée et feuillée de sin., posée sur un tertre du sec. C.: une corne de bouquetin d'arg., ornée à l'ext. de trois roses de gu., bout. d'or. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Roth arms are recorded
The Roth arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Roth Family in Switzerland
The surname Roth is deeply rooted in the history of the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname. In the medieval period, the name was often given to individuals who had red hair or a particularly ruddy complexion. By the time members of the family were documented in Basel in 1745, the name had already been established for generations across the Swiss cantons. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local urban life of cities like Basel, where they participated in the trade guilds and civic administration that defined the region. Because Basel served as a major center for commerce and printing during the eighteenth century, the Roth family members living there were likely part of a mobile and industrious population that helped shape the city’s economic growth. Over time, the name transitioned from a simple personal descriptor into a stable family identity that reflected the social and cultural landscape of the Swiss Confederation.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Gu. on a chev. erm. three mullets sa”
LeicesterLeicester, c. 1620
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Map of England showing where the Roth arms are recorded
The Roth arms were recorded in Leicester, c. 1620.
Leicestershire was grazing country, and wool and cattle made steady money rather than spectacular fortunes. Steady money bought manors, and manors are what brought families into 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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Germany when the Roth arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Leicester.
Origin & History of the Roth Family in England
The history of the Roth family in England is deeply connected to the social and economic landscape of the seventeenth century. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in Leicester, a town that served as a vital hub for trade and local governance in the East Midlands. During this period, families with this name were often integrated into the growing merchant and artisan classes, contributing to the local economy through skilled labor or small-scale commerce. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion, a common way to identify individuals in a time before formal census records were standardized. As the family settled into Leicester, they became part of the fabric of English provincial life, navigating the political and religious shifts that defined the era. Their presence in the city suggests they were part of a stable community that valued local roots and steady industry during a time of significant national change.
Roth Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
rot
A Middle High German word meaning red.
This name
RothA descriptive nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
also spelled
Rod
Road
Rothee
Rott
Related arms
Bonezasame arms
Parchwitzsimilar arms
Petreysimilar 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
