A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sohal family of Germany.
Reg. 2772 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., acc. de six tourt. du même, trois en chef 2 et 1, et trois en p. 2 et 1. C.: deux prob. d'arg., ornées chacune à l'ext. de trois boules de gu. dont une dans l'embouchure, attachées à la proboscide par des petites traverses.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Sohal arms are recorded
The Sohal arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Sohal 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Sohal Family in Germany
The history of the Sohal family name is rooted in the complex social landscape of eighteenth-century Silesia. By 1765, records confirm that family members were established within this region, which was then a territory of significant cultural exchange between Central and Eastern Europe. During this era, families often settled in areas undergoing rapid agricultural and industrial development, and the Sohal name likely emerged as a way to identify specific lineages within these growing communities. Because Silesia served as a crossroads for various linguistic groups, the name may have evolved from local dialects or occupational descriptions common to the period. These early ancestors were part of a resilient population that navigated the shifting political borders and economic changes that defined life in the Prussian-controlled territories of the time.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sohle
A German term referring to the sole of a foot or shoe.
This name
SohalAn occupational surname for a shoemaker or a topographic name for someone living on low-lying ground.
also spelled
Schael
Schäl-Allemagne
Schäl-Autriche
Shal
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Akta stanu cywilnego i księgi metrykalne
State Archive in Opole (Archiwum Państwowe w Opolu), Księgi ludności i rejestry podatkowe
Knie, Johann Georg, Alphabetisch-statistisch-topographische Uebersicht der Dörfer, Flecken, Städte und andern Orte der Königl. Preuss. Provinz Schlesien, 1845
Zimmermann, Friedrich Albert, Beyträge zur Beschreibung von Schlesien, 1783–1796
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
