Map of France showing where the Steinhauer arms are recorded
The Steinhauer arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
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 XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in France when the Steinhauer 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 Steinhauer Family in France
The surname Steinhauer is a German occupational name that translates literally to stone hewer or stone cutter. This name was historically given to individuals who worked in the masonry trade, carving stone for building projects or shaping blocks for construction. By the year 1663, records confirm that members of the family had established a presence in the region of Bretagne, France. It is likely that these early ancestors were skilled craftsmen who traveled to the area to contribute their expertise to the construction of local cathedrals, fortifications, or manor houses. Their migration into this French province suggests that the family was part of a mobile class of specialized laborers who moved across borders to find work on major architectural projects during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stein and Hauer
Germanic words for stone and hewer or cutter.
This name
SteinhauerAn occupational surname for a stonecutter or a quarry worker.
also spelled
Steinhardt
Steinharten
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Archives départementales d’Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
