A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sotak family of Sweden.
Reg. 7443 · Swedish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un canon d'or, se déchargeant, sur son affût d'or, soutenu d'une terrasse de sa.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un cavalier, arm. de toutes pièces d'arg., déchargeant un pistolet, et monté sur un cheval galopant d'arg., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Sur le tout d'azur à une branche de muguets d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° la branche du surtout; 2° le canon du 1.”
Swedenc. 1654
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Map of Sweden showing where the Sotak arms are recorded
The Sotak arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1654.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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 Sweden in this period.
Christina of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Christina of Sweden
1632–1654
Reigning in Sweden when the Sotak arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Sotak Family in Sweden
The name Sotak carries a rich history that traces back to the mid-seventeenth century, with documented evidence placing family members in Stockholm by 1654. During this era, Stockholm was a rapidly expanding center of trade and political power within the Swedish Empire. Families residing in the city at this time were often part of the growing merchant class or skilled laborers who moved to the capital to support its development. The name likely evolved as a way to identify individuals based on their specific trade or their place of origin, which was a common practice for families navigating the social structures of Northern Europe. By establishing themselves in a major urban hub like Stockholm during the 1650s, the early members of the Sotak family were positioned at the center of a bustling, multicultural society that helped shape their identity for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sot
Old Norse term referring to soot or black carbon residue.
This name
SotakA descriptive occupational or nickname for someone with a dark complexion or soot-stained appearance.
also spelled
Stakke
Stak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Riksarkivet (National Archives of Sweden), Stockholms stadsarkiv: Mantalslängder 1654 (Tax and census records for the city of Stockholm, 1654)
Lennart Andersson Palm, Folkmängden i Sveriges städer under 1600-talet (1993)
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
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lilyPurity and the promise of resurrection
knightChivalry and service in arms
