A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stockhausen family of Germany.
Reg. 5632 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à un tronc écoté au nat., poussant de chaque côté une feuille de chêne de sin.; l'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de l'aigle de Prusse. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de sa. T.: à dextre une aigle de sa., à sen. un homme, arm. de toutes pièces de sa., la visière baissée.”
WestphaliaHan · Westphalia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Stockhausen arms are recorded
The Stockhausen arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Stockhausen 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Stockhausen Family in Germany
The surname Stockhausen is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was derived from the physical landscape where the family first settled. In the German language, the name combines the word "stock," referring to a tree stump or a cleared piece of woodland, with "hausen," which denotes a settlement or a collection of houses. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely pioneers who established a homestead in a newly cleared area of the dense forests found in the Westphalia region. By 1765, the family was well-established in this part of Germany, living as part of the rural community where they were deeply connected to the local land. Over many generations, the name evolved from a simple description of their home into a permanent family identifier that tracked their roots back to these early agricultural settlements.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stoc-husen
A settlement or dwelling place located near a tree stump or clearing.
This name
StockhausenRefers to a person originating from a village built near a cleared forest area.
also spelled
Stockhaus
Stokhowzen
Stockhouse
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
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Westfalen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
