A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Siow family of Germany.
Reg. 2104 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 un guerrier romain, cuirassé d'arg., ceint d'une jupe de gu., coiffé d'un casque d'arg., panaché d'or, posé sur une terrasse de sin. et tenant de sa main dextre un glaive, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche; ledit guerrier acc. au canton dextre du chef d'un soleil d'or, et au canton sen. d'un croiss. figuré tourné d'arg. entouré de huit étoiles d'or en orle rond. C.: sept pl. d'aut. d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Siow arms are recorded
The Siow 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 Siow 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 Siow Family in Germany
The history of the Siow family name is deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Bavaria. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were established residents within this region of the Holy Roman Empire. During this era, Bavaria was a center of agricultural and craft production, and families often adopted surnames based on their specific trade, geographic location, or local dialect variations. The name Siow likely emerged as a phonetic adaptation of regional linguistic patterns common to Southern Germany at the time. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of the mid-1700s, they contributed to the local community by participating in the traditional guild systems and village life that defined the Bavarian countryside. This period serves as the earliest documented foundation for the family, marking their presence during a time of significant transition in European history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sieg
Derived from the Germanic word for victory.
This name
SiowA variant of names like Siegfried, signifying a victorious protector or guardian.
also spelled
Sio
Scioo
Sioo
Sho
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
sunGlory, splendour and the source of life
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
