A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vieth family of Germany.
Reg. 3556 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti: au 1 coupé d'azur sur arg.; à deux bannières d'or aux trabes du même, passées en saut., br. sur le tout et acc. de trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or; au 2 coupé: a. d'or à la fasce de sa.; b. de gu. à trois crampons d'arg., 2 et 1, posés en barres. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss., cour. d'or, les ailes coupées à dextre d'azur sur arg., à sen. d'or sur gu. L. conformes aux émaux des ailes. S.: un dogue d'arg., coll. de sin. et d'arg.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Vieth arms are recorded
The Vieth arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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 Vieth 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Vieth Family in Germany
The family name Vieth traces its roots to the historical region of Saxony, where members of the family were firmly established by the year 1765. The name is considered a variant of the Middle High German word "veit," which is a shortened form of the name Vitus. This name was popularized across German-speaking lands due to the influence of Saint Vitus, a Christian martyr from the early fourth century. During the eighteenth century, families in Saxony often lived in agrarian communities or small trade centers where surnames were becoming increasingly fixed in official church and tax records. As the Vieth family settled into these local structures, they contributed to the social and economic fabric of the Saxon landscape. Their presence in the region during this era reflects the broader patterns of migration and family development that defined central European life before the industrial age.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Vit
Derived from the Latin word for life
This name
ViethA patronymic surname originating from the given name Vitus, signifying one who is full of life.
also spelled
Feet de Golseno
Vieth
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
