A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schneider family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 3039 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. au lion d'or, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la fasce d'azur, ch. de deux F adossés d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'or, entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'azur sur arg., à sen. d'or sur sa. L.: conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Schneider Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Schneider arms are recorded
The Schneider arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Schneider 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 Schneider Family in Germany
The name Schneider is a classic German occupational surname that originated during the Middle Ages to identify a person’s trade. Derived from the Middle High German word *snīden*, which means to cut, the name was given to tailors who crafted clothing from cloth. As surnames became necessary for tax records and legal identification in German-speaking lands, families adopted the name based on the work they performed in their local villages. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name was already well-established across the region as a common identifier for those in the garment industry. Because tailoring was a vital service in every town, the name spread independently in many different areas rather than originating from a single family line. This history reflects the transition of German society from a system of single names to a structured society where family trades defined one’s place in the community.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De sin. à un calice d'or.”
AlsaceAlsace, c. 1663
Where the Schneider Arms Were Recorded
Alsace
Map of France showing where the Schneider arms are recorded
The Schneider arms were recorded in Alsace, c. 1663.
Alsace lay between France and the German lands and belonged to both at different times. Its families held small estates and served whichever side ruled, and men who served in arms carried arms of their own.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Germany when the Schneider arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Alsace.
Origin & History of the Schneider Family in France
The name Schneider is a classic occupational surname that originated from the German word for a tailor. While the name is deeply rooted in German culture, its presence in France is most strongly tied to the historical region of Alsace. By 1663, families bearing this name were already established in Alsatian communities, living in a borderland where French and German influences constantly blended. Because Alsace changed hands between France and various German states several times over the centuries, the Schneider family lived through a unique cultural transition. These early ancestors were likely craftsmen who provided essential clothing services to their neighbors in growing towns. As they settled in France, they helped shape the local economy and social fabric of the region. Their history reflects the resilience of families who maintained their identity while adapting to the shifting political borders of early modern Europe.
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 trois roses naturelles de gu., tigées et feuillées de sin., mouv. d'une même tige, posée sur un tertre de sin. Brl. d'arg. et de gu. C.: un lion iss. de gu., tenant de ses pattes une tige feuillée de sin., fleurie de trois roses mal-ordonnées de gu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Where the Schneider Arms Were Recorded
Bâle
Map of Switzerland showing where the Schneider arms are recorded
The Schneider 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 Schneider Family in Switzerland
The surname Schneider is a classic occupational name that originated from the Middle High German word *snīder*, which translates directly to tailor. In the context of medieval and early modern Switzerland, this name was given to individuals who earned their living by cutting cloth and sewing garments. By the time members of the family were documented in Bern in 1745, the name had already been established across various German-speaking regions for centuries. Because tailoring was an essential trade in every town and village, families carrying this name often held a stable and respected position within their local communities. These early Schneiders in Bern likely operated as independent craftsmen who contributed to the city’s thriving guild system, which regulated the quality of textiles and clothing production during the eighteenth century. As they settled into the social fabric of the region, they became part of the long tradition of Swiss citizens who balanced their professional skills with the civic responsibilities required by the city-state of Bern.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
schneiden
To cut or to slice.
This name
SchneiderAn occupational surname for a tailor or someone who cuts cloth.
also spelled
Schnieder
Shnider
Snyder
Schneidar
Related arms
Cervellisimilar arms
Fellnersimilar arms
Fellner de Feldeggsimilar arms
Kunzrecorded with Schneider, same area
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, 1971
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
