A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schwindt family of Germany.
Reg. 7396 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
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)
“D'azur à une demi-ramure de cerf d'or, posée en barre; à un chevreuil ramp. au nat., br. sur le tout. C.: les meubles de l'écu [V. Schmidt de Schwind.]”
GermanyFrancfort s, c. 1647
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Map of Germany showing where the Schwindt arms are recorded
The Schwindt arms were recorded in Francfort s, c. 1647.
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.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Germany when the Schwindt 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 Schwindt Family in Germany
The surname Schwindt originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it likely developed as a descriptive name rooted in Middle High German. Etymologists often link the name to the term "schwind," which could refer to a person who lived near a clearing or a piece of land that had been cleared of trees. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Frankfurt, a major center for trade and culture. Records from 1647 confirm that members of the Schwindt family were integrated into the urban life of this city during a time of significant social change following the Thirty Years' War. As residents of a bustling commercial hub, these early ancestors were likely involved in the local crafts or merchant guilds that defined the economy of the region. Over the following generations, the family name spread as individuals moved throughout the German states, carrying their history from the busy streets of Frankfurt into the broader landscape of European society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schwinden
To vanish, disappear, or dwindle away.
This name
SchwindtA descriptive nickname for someone who was physically frail, thin, or prone to fainting.
also spelled
Swindt
Schwindtt
Swindtt
Shwint
Related arms
Swindtvariant spelling
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
