A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schaf family of Germany.
Reg. 5704 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lambGentleness, patience and faith
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 un mouton pass. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: le mouton, iss.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Schaf Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Schaf arms are recorded
The Schaf arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Schaf 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Schaf Family in Germany
The surname Schaf is a German occupational name that translates directly to sheep. In the medieval period, names were often derived from a person’s trade, and this name likely identified a shepherd or a merchant who dealt in wool and livestock. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the Schaf family were established in the region of Silesia. During this era, Silesia was a vibrant territory known for its agricultural output and textile production, which provided a natural environment for families associated with the sheep trade to thrive. As these families settled into local communities, the name became a permanent fixture in the regional census and church registers. This transition from a simple job description to a formal family name reflects the way many common surnames were solidified across Central Europe during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schaf
A Germanic term referring to a wool-bearing domestic animal.
This name
SchafAn occupational name for a shepherd or a nickname for someone with sheep-like characteristics.
also spelled
Schaaf
Shaf
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
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lambGentleness, patience and faith
lambGentleness, patience and faith
