A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Spitzer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1103 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'azur et d'or; à une femme nue de carn., les cheveux épars, posée sur une terrasse de sin., supp. de sa main dextre une étoile d'or, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. Cq. cour. C.: la femme (sans étoile), embrassant deux prob. coupées alt. d'azur et d'or, entre lesquelles elle est posée de front L.: d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyHeilbronn Wurt, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Spitzer arms are recorded
The Spitzer arms were recorded in Heilbronn Wurt, 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 Spitzer 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 Spitzer Family in Germany
The surname Spitzer is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "spitz," which describes something pointed or sharp. Historically, this name was often given to people who lived near a pointed hill, a sharp mountain peak, or a piece of land shaped like a wedge. By the time the family was documented in the city of Heilbronn in 1765, the name had been established for generations as a way to identify individuals by their local geography. During the eighteenth century, Heilbronn was a bustling center of trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Spitzers were often integrated into the urban economy as merchants or skilled laborers. This period of history reflects a time when surnames were becoming permanent fixtures of identity, helping to track the movement and social standing of families within the Holy Roman Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois clous d'or, les pointes en bas, soutenus d'un tertre du même; à deux étoiles aussi d'or, posées dans les angles du chef. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti de gu. et d'or, les bras étendus, tenant de chaque main un clou de l'écu en pal, la pointe en bas.”
AustriaVienne, c. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Spitzer arms are recorded
The Spitzer arms were recorded in Vienne, c. 1772.
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.
Region
Vienne
Town
Vienne
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Spitzer Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Spitzer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Spitzer Family in Austria
The family name Spitzer is a topographic surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific geographic location. In the German language, the word "spitz" refers to a pointed object or a sharp peak, suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a prominent mountain, a sharp bend in a river, or a pointed piece of land. By the time members of the family were documented in Vienna in 1772, the name had become well-established among German-speaking populations in the Austrian Empire. During this period, the family was part of the urban growth that defined the late eighteenth century in Vienna. As the city expanded into a center of trade and culture, families with names like Spitzer often integrated into the professional and merchant classes. These early records from Vienna provide a clear link to the family's presence in the heart of the Habsburg monarchy, showing how they contributed to the social fabric of the capital during a time of significant historical change.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
spitz
A sharp, pointed object or a mountain peak.
This name
SpitzerAn occupational name for someone who lived near a pointed hill or made pointed tools.
also spelled
Spitser
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heuss, Theodor, Heilbronn: Geschichte einer Stadt, 1951
Stadtarchiv Heilbronn, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Heilbronn, 1765
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
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
womanGrace, and the founding of a house
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
