A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schuh family of Germany.
Reg. 3017 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 d'arg. à un homme d'armes, arm. de toutes pièces, iss. par les genoux, tenant une hallebarde; au 2 d'or à une étoile d'azur; au 3 de gu. à une tour carrée d'arg., ouv. du champ, sommée d'un arbre de sin. et flanquée de deux avant-murs crén. du sec., touchant les flancs. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'azur, entre deux pl. d'aut. d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Schuh arms are recorded
The Schuh arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Schuh 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 Schuh Family in Germany
The surname Schuh originated as a descriptive occupational name in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically referring to a person who made or repaired footwear. During the Middle Ages, many families adopted names based on their daily trade to help distinguish them within growing villages and towns. By the time records confirm the presence of the Schuh family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had been established for generations as a marker of a skilled craftsman. Living in the Bavarian region, these early family members were likely part of a community that valued traditional trade guilds and local craftsmanship. As the family grew and moved through different towns, the name remained a consistent link to their ancestral roots as shoemakers, reflecting a history deeply tied to the practical needs of everyday life in historical Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
scuoh
Old High German term for a protective covering for the foot.
This name
SchuhAn occupational surname for a maker or repairer of footwear.
also spelled
Schu
Shoo
Shoe
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
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
