A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Vita family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Parti de sa. et d'arg., de quatre pièces. Cq. cour. C.: un vol à l'antique d'arg., ch. d'un pal de sa.”
The Vita arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Vita 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 family name Vita traces its roots to the Latin word for life, which suggests that the name was often given as a sign of vitality or as a blessing for a newborn. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg served as a major center for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in the city at that time were often deeply integrated into the local guild systems or involved in the bustling mercantile economy that defined the region. Living in Nuremberg in 1765 meant that the Vita family likely experienced the transition of the city into a hub of Enlightenment thought and industrial growth. This environment provided many opportunities for families to build a reputation through their professional skills and their contributions to the civic life of the city.
Latin noun meaning life or way of living.
