Map of France showing where the Schulte arms are recorded
The Schulte arms were recorded in France, c. 1869.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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.
Napoleon III
Sovereign of the period
Napoleon III
1852–1870
Reigning in France when the Schulte 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 France.
Origin & History of the Schulte Family in France
The surname Schulte originates from the Germanic word *Schultheiß*, which historically referred to a village magistrate or a local official responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing laws. While the name is deeply rooted in German-speaking regions, its presence in France is often tied to the movement of families across borders during the nineteenth century. By 1869, records confirm that members of the Schulte family had established a presence in the Brittany region of France. This migration likely occurred as families sought new opportunities in agriculture or trade within the coastal communities of western France. During this era, the name underwent subtle shifts in pronunciation and spelling to fit the local Breton and French linguistic landscape. These early settlers helped integrate the name into the social fabric of the region, transitioning from their roles as traditional village leaders in their homeland to becoming part of the diverse cultural history of nineteenth-century Brittany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. et d'or; au chef d'or. C.: un vol de sa. L. d'or et de gu.”
Polandc. 1772
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Map of Poland showing where the Schulte arms are recorded
The Schulte arms were recorded in Poland, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Mazovia.
Mazovia held Warsaw, the Polish court and the assemblies where the szlachta met. Poland's nobles were unusually numerous and every one of them bore arms, and Warsaw is where those arms were argued over and recorded.
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
Mazovia
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Schulte Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in France when the Schulte arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Poland.
Origin & History of the Schulte Family in Poland
The name Schulte originates from the Middle Low German word *schulthete*, which historically referred to a village headman or a local magistrate responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining order. As families bearing this name migrated eastward into the Polish territories, particularly settling in the Mazovia region by 1772, the name often functioned as a professional title that identified the family's role in local administration. In the context of 18th-century Mazovia, these families were frequently part of the rural middle class who managed land and served as intermediaries between the local peasantry and the regional authorities. Because the name was tied to a specific social function rather than just a bloodline, it became a marker of families who held positions of responsibility within their communities. Over time, as these individuals integrated into the Polish social structure, the name remained a testament to their ancestors' roles as village leaders and land managers in the changing landscape of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schultheiß
A medieval official responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing local laws.
This name
SchulteAn occupational surname for a village headman or a local magistrate.
also spelled
Schult
Schulten
Schultes
Shulte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, État civil de la commune de Lorient, 1869
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France, 1951
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
