A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Speltz family of Germany.
Reg. 0109 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Parti : au 1 reparti d'azur et d'or, à un chien naiss. et cont. d'arg., br. sur le parti; au 2 d'arg. à trois épis d'or. C.: le chien, iss., entre un vol d'azur. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyCoblence, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Speltz arms are recorded
The Speltz arms were recorded in Coblence, 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 Germany when the Speltz 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 Speltz Family in Germany
The family name Speltz traces its roots to the Rhineland region of Germany, with documented evidence placing early family members in the city of Coblence by 1765. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "Spelz," which refers to a type of hardy grain known as spelt. During the eighteenth century, families often adopted surnames based on their trade, the crops they cultivated, or the specific regions where they lived. As residents of Coblence, a strategic city located at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the Speltz family lived in a major hub for trade and river transportation. This location suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in the agricultural commerce or the bustling merchant activities that defined life in the Electorate of Trier during this period. Over time, the family name became a permanent identifier that linked these early individuals to their ancestral home in the German Rhineland.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Spelt
A type of hardy ancient grain related to wheat.
This name
SpeltzAn occupational name for a grower, seller, or miller of spelt grain.
also spelled
Spelt
Spelts
Related arms
Speltvariant spelling
Spillnerrecorded with Speltz, same area
Wasserschlebenrecorded with Speltz, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bremmer, Rolf H., Germanic Surnames and Their Origins, 2005
Stadtarchiv Koblenz, Personenstandsregister der Stadt Koblenz, 1765
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1982
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