A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Welz family of Germany.
Reg. 2511 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'or sur un mur crén. de gu., maçonné de sa.; le mur supp. un homme de profil, hab. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet pointu du même, tenant de sa main dextre un poisson au nat., courbé en croiss. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° l'homme, iss. et cont., tenant de sa main sen. le poisson: 2° une branche de chêne, feuillée de deux pièces et fruitée de cinq pièces, le tout au nat.; entre deux prob., coupées alt. de gu. et d'or. L. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1787
Where the Welz Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Welz arms are recorded
The Welz arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1787.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Welz 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 Welz Family in Germany
The surname Welz is a German occupational or descriptive name that likely originated as a shortened form of names like Walther or Welf. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, Bavaria was a collection of territories undergoing significant social and agricultural changes under the rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Families like the Welz clan often worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople who contributed to the stability of these rural communities. Because the name was relatively common in southern Germany, it was frequently recorded in local parish registers as families baptized their children and registered marriages. These early records show that the Welz family was deeply integrated into the cultural and economic life of the Bavarian countryside long before the unification of Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Walo
A Germanic personal name derived from the element meaning foreign or stranger.
This name
WelzA patronymic or nickname referring to a descendant of a foreigner or stranger.
also spelled
Wels
Welze
Welts
Related arms
Weltzvariant 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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv. Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien in Bayern. 1787
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
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
knightChivalry and service in arms
