A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wollschlager family of France.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Coupé d'arg. sur azur. Cq. cour. C.: deux prob., coupées d'arg. sur azur.”
The Wollschlager arms were recorded in France, c. 1663.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Reigning in France when the Wollschlager arms are first recorded.
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
The family name Wollschlager originates from the German language and translates to a wool beater or a person who processed raw wool. This occupational surname suggests that the earliest ancestors were skilled craftspeople who played a vital role in the textile industry during the Middle Ages. While the name is Germanic in its roots, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in the Bretagne region of France by 1663. This migration likely occurred as skilled workers moved across borders to find new opportunities or to escape regional instability. By settling in France, the family adapted to a new culture while maintaining a name that served as a permanent link to their ancestral trade. Their presence in Bretagne highlights a history of mobility and the integration of specialized professional skills into new communities.
Wool and beater or striker.
