A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Shaffer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3572 · Austrian, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à la croix d'or, ch. d'une croix de Malte du champ; à la bord. du sec. Sur le tout d'azur à la fasce vivrée alésée d'arg., acc. de trois bes. du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une rose de gu., entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile d'or; 1. d'or et de gu.; 2° deux banderoles passées en saut., celle à dextre d'azur à la fasce vivrée alésée d'arg., celle à sen. d'or à la croix de Malte de gu.; 1. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Austriac. 1772
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Shaffer arms are recorded
The Shaffer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Shaffer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Shaffer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Shaffer Family in Austria
The family name Shaffer, often derived from the German word *Schäfer* meaning shepherd, has deep roots in the alpine regions of Austria. By the year 1772, records confirm that members of the family were well established in the province of Tyrol. During this period, Tyrol was a rugged and mountainous territory where the economy relied heavily on agriculture, livestock, and trade routes crossing the Alps. Families with this name were likely involved in the traditional pastoral lifestyle that defined the region, tending to flocks on high-altitude meadows. As the name evolved from a professional title into a permanent surname, it became a marker of the family’s long-standing connection to the land and the distinct cultural identity of the Tyrolean people. This history reflects the broader movement of families across Central Europe who settled in stable communities and maintained their livelihoods through generations of careful stewardship of the mountain landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
axeThe execution of military duty
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 hallebarde d'or en barre et une épée d'arg., la pointe en bas, br. en bande; à un croiss. figuré tourné d'or, posé au point du chef. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut. d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyBade, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Shaffer arms are recorded
The Shaffer arms were recorded in Bade, c. 1765.
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 Austria when the Shaffer 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 Shaffer Family in Germany
The surname Shaffer is a variant of the German name Schäfer, which translates directly to shepherd. In the social structure of medieval and early modern Germany, this was an occupational name given to those who tended large flocks of sheep. Because wool was a vital resource for the economy, the village shepherd held a respected and essential role in the community. By the time your ancestors were recorded in the Baden region in 1765, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. These families were often deeply rooted in the agricultural life of the German countryside, where they lived and worked within the strict social hierarchies of the Holy Roman Empire. As the population grew, many families like yours maintained their connection to the land while slowly moving from rural villages into the developing towns of the region.
Shaffer Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Schäfer
A person who herds and tends to sheep.
This name
ShafferAn occupational surname for a shepherd or someone who managed a flock.
also spelled
Schafer
Schaffer
Shafer
Shaffer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
axeThe execution of military duty
swordJustice, and military honour
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
