A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wix family of Germany.
Reg. 1451 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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: au 1 de gu. plein; au 2 d'arg. à deux fasces de sa. Cq. cour. C.: deux prob. coupées, à dextre de gu. sur arg., à sen. d'arg. sur sa., ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois pl. d'aut. de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Wix arms are recorded
The Wix 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 Wix 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 Wix Family in Germany
The surname Wix traces its roots to the historical region of Bavaria, where family members were documented as early as 1765. During this period, the name was closely tied to the rural landscapes and agricultural traditions of Southern Germany. Families with this name often lived in small, tight-knit communities where they contributed to the local economy through farming or skilled craftsmanship. As the population grew, the name became a marker of regional identity, reflecting the specific customs and dialects of the Bavarian people. Over time, the family expanded across the region, moving from small villages into larger towns as they sought new opportunities in trade and local administration. This movement helped preserve the name across generations, grounding the family history in the social and cultural shifts that defined eighteenth-century Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wichmann
Derived from the Germanic elements for warrior and man.
This name
WixA topographic name for someone living near a dairy farm or a variant of the name Wichmann.
also spelled
Weixer
Weixe
Vix
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
