A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stoltzfus family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Tranché d'azur sur arg. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu.”
The Stoltzfus arms were recorded in Schwäbisch-Hall, 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.
Reigning in Germany when the Stoltzfus arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Stoltzfus has its roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically within the area of Schwäbisch Hall. The name is a compound word derived from the German terms "stolz," meaning proud, and "fuß," meaning foot. Historically, this name likely functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person who walked with a confident or upright gait. By the mid-18th century, members of the family were well-established in the region of Schwäbisch Hall. Many individuals bearing this name eventually migrated from these German lands to North America in search of new opportunities and religious freedom. Once they arrived in the American colonies, the spelling of the name often stabilized into the form recognized today. This transition marked the beginning of the family's long history as a distinct lineage within the agricultural communities of Pennsylvania.
German word meaning proud or haughty.
