A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Völker family of Germany.
Reg. 7168 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'arg. et de sa.; à un chardon au nat., br. sur le parti. Cq. cour. C.: deux triangles vidés entrelacés, l'un de gu., l'autre d'arg.; entre un vol, d'arg. et de sa. L.: d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1626
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Map of Germany showing where the Völker arms are recorded
The Völker arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1626.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Völker 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 Völker Family in Germany
The surname Völker originates from the German language and is rooted in the ancient word for people or folk. During the Middle Ages, this name was often used as a descriptive term for someone who was a member of a specific group or tribe. By the early 17th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Bavaria. Life for these early ancestors was deeply connected to the agricultural cycles and local traditions of the Bavarian countryside. As the name spread through the German-speaking lands, it evolved from a general descriptor into a permanent family identifier passed down through generations. This transition reflects the broader historical shift where common nicknames and occupational titles became fixed surnames to help local authorities track families for tax and census purposes.
Völker Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
folc
Old Germanic word referring to a group of people or army.
This name
VölkerDerived from a nickname for someone who was a member of the people or folk.
also spelled
Volcker
Folker
Related arms
Feilitzsch-Wölkervariant spelling
Volekervariant spelling
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
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
plant thistleDefiance, and the defence of Scotland
