A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Volk family of Germany.
Reg. 2481 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 parti d'or et de gu., à un homme iss., br. sur le parti, posé de profil, hab. de l'un en l'autre, bout. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet à l'antique du même, tenant une hallebarde d'arg. et mouv. d'un mur crén. du même, occupant la moitié inférieure de l'écu. C.: l'homme, iss. L. d'or et d'azur”
GermanyRatisbonne, 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 Volk arms are recorded
The Volk arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, 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 Volk 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 Volk Family in Germany
The surname Volk is a classic example of a name derived from a common Germanic word. In its original context, the term meant people or folk, and it was often used as a nickname for someone who was a prominent member of a community or a leader among the local population. By the time your ancestors were documented in Ratisbonne, which is known today as Regensburg, in 1765, the name had long been established as a common identifier in German-speaking lands. Families with this name were often integrated into the urban life of trade centers like Ratisbonne, where they worked as skilled laborers or merchants. Because the name was tied to the concept of the community itself, it remained a stable and recognizable identifier as your ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of the eighteenth century in Bavaria.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
folc
Old Germanic term referring to a group of people or tribe.
This name
VolkA surname originally used to describe a member of the common people.
also spelled
Volck
Folck
Folk
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Regensburg, Bürgeraufnahme- und Zunftprotokolle der Stadt Regensburg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
knightChivalry and service in arms
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
