A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Snitker family of France.
Reg. 1230 · French, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un chevalier iss., arm. d'arg., cour. d'or, supp. de sa main dextre étendue un oiseau cont. au nat.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois lis de jardin d'or, tigés et feuillés de sin., soutenus d'une colline du même et posés sur le coupeau du milieu. Cq. cour. C.: le chevalier, L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
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Map of France showing where the Snitker arms are recorded
The Snitker arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
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.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Snitker 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 Snitker Family in France
The family name Snitker carries a history that likely originates from the Low German or Dutch word snitker, which translates to a carpenter or a woodworker. While the name is associated with these Germanic roots, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Bretagne, France, by 1725. During this period, the family likely integrated into the local community while maintaining their ancestral identity. It is probable that they were skilled tradespeople who traveled or relocated for work, eventually settling in the coastal landscapes of northwestern France. This transition from a Germanic linguistic background to a life in the Breton countryside highlights the mobility of families in the early eighteenth century. By maintaining their name in a region dominated by French and Breton speakers, the family preserved a unique connection to their professional heritage as craftsmen.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schnitt
A cut or a section of land.
This name
SnitkerAn occupational name for a tailor or a cutter of cloth.
also spelled
Senitze
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales du Morbihan, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
