A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schaeffer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1260 · Austrian, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 croix d'or, ch. d'une croix de Malte du champ; à la bord. du sec. Sur le tout d'azur à la fasce vivrée alésée d'arg., acc. de trois bes. du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une rose de gu., entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile d'or; 1. d'or et de gu.; 2° deux banderoles passées en saut., celle à dextre d'azur à la fasce vivrée alésée d'arg., celle à sen. d'or à la croix de Malte de gu.; 1. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Schaeffer arms are recorded
The Schaeffer 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 Schaeffer 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 Austria when the Schaeffer 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 Schaeffer Family in Austria
The surname Schaeffer is rooted in the German word *Schäfer*, which translates to shepherd. In the mountainous landscape of Tyrol during the 18th century, this name served as an occupational identifier for families who managed livestock across the high alpine pastures. By 1772, records confirm that members of the Schaeffer family were well-established within the Tyrolean region, where they played a vital role in the local agrarian economy. Life in this area required families to adapt to the rugged terrain and the seasonal migration of animals known as transhumance. As the family moved through the valleys and slopes of the Austrian Alps, they became deeply integrated into the social and administrative structures of their local parishes. This transition from a simple job title to a permanent family name reflects the way rural communities in Austria organized themselves during the late 1700s.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
axeThe execution of military duty
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à une hallebarde d'or en barre et une épée d'arg., la pointe en bas, br. en bande; à un croiss. figuré tourné d'or, posé au point du chef. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyBade, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Schaeffer arms are recorded
The Schaeffer arms were recorded in Bade, 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 Austria when the Schaeffer 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 Schaeffer Family in Germany
The surname Schaeffer is a classic occupational name that emerged in the German-speaking regions of Europe during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "schaffære," which referred to a steward, a manager of an estate, or a shepherd. Because these roles were essential to the functioning of medieval manors and agricultural villages, the name appeared independently in many different regions as families took on the titles of their professions. By the time records place your ancestors in the Baden region around 1765, the name was already well-established across German lands. During this era, families with this name were often deeply integrated into the local agrarian economy, serving as reliable figures who oversaw the distribution of goods or the care of livestock. The move toward using fixed surnames helped local governments and church officials keep better track of citizens for tax and census purposes, cementing the name Schaeffer as a permanent fixture of the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schaff
A Middle High German term referring to a vessel or container.
This name
SchaefferAn occupational surname for a maker or seller of wooden vessels and containers.
also spelled
Schafer
Schaffer
Shafer
Shaffer
Related arms
Schäfervariant spelling
Schaffervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
axeThe execution of military duty
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
