A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sass family of Germany.
Reg. 7792 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or au lion naiss. de gu., mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'azur à trois étoiles d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or; entre un vol, d'azur et d'or. L. d'or et d'azur. — (Barons, 1 sept. 1779; rec. du titre en Russie, 21 sept. 1853 et 3 avril 1862; en Prusse, 24 juin 1874.) Éc.: au 1 coupé: a. de sa. à la croix de l'ordre de St.-Jean d'arg.; b. d'arg. à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or; aux 2 et 3 coupé: a. d'or au lion naiss. de gu., cour. d'or, mouv. du coupé; b. d'azur à trois étoiles d'or; au 4 coupé: a. d'arg. à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or; b. de sa. à la croix de l'ordre de St.-Jean d'arg. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1º un demi-vol cont. d'azur; 2º une tête et col d'aigle de sa., bq. d'or, sommée d'une couronne royale du même; 3º un demi-vol d'or. L. d'or et d'azur. T.: deux sauvages de carn., ceints et cour. de lierre, arm. de massues.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Sass arms are recorded
The Sass arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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.
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 Sass 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Sass Family in Germany
The family name Sass has deep roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name itself is often classified as a topographic or habitational surname, likely derived from the Middle Low German word "sas," which referred to a person who lived on a specific plot of land or a settler. In the cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Westphalia, families with this name were typically part of the rural agrarian society, working the fertile lands that defined the local economy. Because Westphalia served as a major crossroads for trade and migration in the Holy Roman Empire, the name spread gradually as family members moved between villages to pursue farming, craftsmanship, or local administrative roles. By the mid-1700s, the Sass name was well-integrated into the parish records of the region, reflecting a stable and established presence in the local community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sasse
A person who is a settler or an inhabitant of a region.
This name
SassA topographic or habitational name for someone who settled in a specific area.
also spelled
Saz
Sas
Related arms
Sasevariant spelling
Sazvariant 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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Kirchenkreise, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
