A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wechter family of Germany.
Reg. 3390 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Tiercé en pairle renv.: au 1 d'arg. à trois cors-de-chasse de sa., l'un sur l'autre; au 2 d'arg. à une boule d'azur, percée d'un annelet du même; au 3 parti d'arg. et d'azur, à un panier de fer ovale d'or, br. sur le parti. Cq. cour. C.: le panier du 3, rempli de flammes de gu.; entre deux prob., d'arg. et d'azur. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Wechter arms are recorded
The Wechter arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Wechter 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 Wechter Family in Germany
The surname Wechter is rooted in the German language and historically functions as an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word *wechter*, which translates to a watchman or a guard. In the medieval period, individuals with this name were often responsible for keeping watch over town gates, walls, or local fortifications to ensure the safety of the community. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region. During this era, life in Bavaria was defined by agricultural work and small-scale trade, and families often lived in the same village for many generations. The name reflects a time when a person's identity was closely tied to their specific role within the social structure of their town.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wachter
Derived from the Middle High German word for a watchman or guard.
This name
WechterAn occupational surname for someone who served as a night watchman or town guard.
also spelled
Wecht
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
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
hunting horn stringedOne who delights in the chase
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
