A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Walterscheid family of Germany.
Reg. 7987 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“éc.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une grue d'arg., coll. d'une couronne d'or, avec sa vigilance du sec.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à trois coquilles d'arg., posées et rangées en bande. Sur le tout de Jeschki, qui est éc.: a. et d. de sa. à un senestrochère, paré de gu., tenant un sabre d'arg.; b. et c. de gu. à une grue avec sa vigilance, au nat. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° de Walter, qui est un sauvage iss de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant une massue sur son épaule; l.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° de Jeschki, qui est une grue iss. au nat., coll. d'une couronne d'or, le vol ouv.: l.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur [V. Jesehki.]”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1828
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Map of Germany showing where the Walterscheid arms are recorded
The Walterscheid arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1828.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Walterscheid arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Saxony.
Origin & History of the Walterscheid Family in Germany
The surname Walterscheid is a topographical name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts. The first part, Walter, is a common Germanic given name meaning ruler of the army. The second part, scheid, refers to a boundary, a mountain ridge, or a watershed. This suggests that the earliest families bearing this name likely lived near a prominent ridge or a dividing line in the landscape. By the early 19th century, records confirm that members of the Walterscheid family were well-established in the Saxony region of Germany. During this period, families in this area were often deeply connected to the local agricultural and village structures that defined life in the German states. As the 1820s progressed, these families navigated the social and economic changes occurring across Central Europe, maintaining their identity through their distinct surname and regional roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wald-Scheid
Forest boundary or a clearing located near a wooded area.
This name
WalterscheidRefers to a person who lived near a forest boundary or a woodland clearing.
also spelled
Walter-Jeschke
Walther-Jeschky
Valter-Jeschki
Walter Yeshki
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, 1828
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
