A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Setzer family of Germany.
Reg. 8532 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à un archer, posé de profil, hab. de gu., le carquois sur le dos, posé sur une terrasse de sin. et décochant une flèche d'un arc; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une couronne d'or. Cq. cour. C.: l'archer, iss., entre un vol coupé, à dextre d'or sur azur, à sen. d'arg. sur gu. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Setzer arms are recorded
The Setzer 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 Setzer 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 Setzer Family in Germany
The family name Setzer is rooted in the German language and historically functions as an occupational surname. It originates from the Middle High German word "setzen," which refers to the act of placing or setting something in a specific position. In the context of early medieval society, this name likely identified a person who worked as a professional planter, a stone setter in construction, or perhaps a specialized official who set boundaries for land plots. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region of southern Germany. During this era, these individuals were typically integrated into the agrarian or craft-based economies of the Holy Roman Empire, where they lived as farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople within their village communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Setzen
To place, set, or settle in a specific location.
This name
SetzerAn occupational name for a person who sets or places items, or a settler.
also spelled
Setzere
Setzerr
Setzr
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
crownSovereignty, authority and just reward
