A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Walther family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 4119 · Polish, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Taillé: au 1 de gu. à un éperon d'arg., en barre, la molette à sen.; au 2 d'azur à un fer-à-cheval d'or, les bouts en bas.”
CourlandCourland, c. 1772
Where the Walther Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Walther arms are recorded
The Walther arms were recorded in Courland, c. 1772.
Courland was Baltic coast country held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations and served as officers abroad, and both landholding and service brought arms with them.
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.
Region
Courland
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Walther Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Walther arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Courland.
Origin & History of the Walther Family in Poland
The surname Walther is of Germanic origin and translates to "ruler of the army," reflecting a history rooted in the medieval social structures of Central Europe. By the eighteenth century, members of the Walther family had established a notable presence in the region of Courland, which was then a duchy with strong cultural and political ties to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Because Courland served as a crossroads for trade and migration between German lands and the Baltic territories, families like the Walthers often moved within these administrative borders to serve as merchants, craftsmen, or local officials. The family’s presence in this area by 1772 suggests they were part of the broader movement of German-speaking settlers who integrated into the social fabric of the region during a time of significant political transition. Their history in this part of the world highlights the fluid nature of borders and the ways that families maintained their identity while adapting to the changing laws and customs of the Polish sphere of influence.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion d'or, tenant une rose d'arg., bout. d'or, barbée de sin., le lion du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à la fasce d'arg. C.: le lion, iss. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1741
Where the Walther Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Walther arms are recorded
The Walther arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1741.
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.
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 Walther Family in Germany
The surname Walther is a classic example of a German name derived from an ancient personal name. It stems from the Old High German words "waltan," meaning to rule, and "heri," meaning army. This makes the name a title for a powerful leader or a ruler of warriors. By the time the name became a formal family surname in the Middle Ages, it was already well-established across various German-speaking regions. While the family had a notable presence in Saxony by 1741, the name itself had been in use for centuries as people transitioned from using single names to hereditary surnames. Families carrying this name were often found among the professional and land-owning classes, as the name was associated with strength and authority. Over generations, the spelling remained remarkably consistent, reflecting the deep roots the family established within the social and cultural landscape of central Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois peupliers de sin., posés sur trois collines du même.”
SwitzerlandSelkingen Valais, c. 1745
Where the Walther Arms Were Recorded
Selkingen Valais
Map of Switzerland showing where the Walther arms are recorded
The Walther arms were recorded in Selkingen Valais, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Walther Family in Switzerland
The surname Walther originates from the Old High German name Waltheri, which combines the words for power and army to signify a powerful warrior or ruler. In the context of Switzerland, the name became firmly established across various regions as families settled in mountain villages and valleys. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Walther family had secured a notable presence in the village of Selkingen, located in the Goms district of the Valais canton. Records from 1745 confirm that members of this lineage were active participants in the local community during a time when the region was defined by its alpine agriculture and strong communal governance. These early settlers were part of the broader social fabric of the Upper Valais, where families often remained in the same geographic area for generations to manage land and maintain local traditions. Through these deep roots in the Swiss Alps, the Walther name became synonymous with the history of the Goms region and the enduring resilience of its mountain inhabitants.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Waldhari
Derived from Germanic elements meaning ruler of the forest or army.
This name
WaltherA surname of Germanic origin signifying a powerful commander or forest guardian.
also spelled
Walter
Related arms
Gualtersimilar arms
Rigottisimilar arms
Waltervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Dunsdorfs, Edgars. Der große schwedische Kataster in Livland 1681–1710. 1974
Mühlen, Heinz von zur. Deutschbaltisches Biographisches Lexikon 1710–1960. 1970
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
spurKnighthood, and readiness to spur on
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
