A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thode family of Germany.
Reg. 7699 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un chicot de sin., posé en pal, portant à dextre une rose de gu. et deux trèfles de sin., et à sen. deux roses de gu. et un trèfle de sin. C.: trois flèches de gu., arm. d'azur, empennées d'or, les pointes en bas. L. de gu. et de sin.”
GermanyHambourg, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Thode arms are recorded
The Thode arms were recorded in Hambourg, 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 Thode 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 Thode Family in Germany
The surname Thode is rooted in Northern Germany, where it functioned as a shortened version of names beginning with the Germanic element "thiod," meaning "people" or "nation." By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the bustling port city of Hamburg. During this era, Hamburg served as a vital hub for international trade and maritime commerce, which likely influenced the family’s professional activities and social standing. As residents of a free imperial city, members of the Thode family were part of a dynamic urban environment that attracted merchants, skilled craftsmen, and sailors from across Europe. This historical connection to Hamburg suggests that the family was well-integrated into the economic life of the region during a time of significant growth and cultural exchange.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Theodoric
Derived from Germanic elements meaning ruler of the people.
This name
ThodeA patronymic surname originating as a short form of names beginning with the element theod.
also spelled
Todt
Tood
Todee
Toda
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
Staatsarchiv Hamburg, Hamburger Kirchenbücher (Tauf-, Heirats- und Sterberegister), 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
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
