A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Würzburg family of Germany.
Reg. 8578 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
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)
“D'or à une tête et col d'homme barbu, posée de profil, les épaules hab. de sa., au rabat d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet albanais de sa., le sommet orné d'une étoile de gu. Cq. cour. C.: une queue de paon au nat., br. sur quatre pl. d'aut., alt. d'or et de sa. L. d'or et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1672
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Map of Germany showing where the Würzburg arms are recorded
The Würzburg arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1672.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Würzburg 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Würzburg Family in Germany
The family name Würzburg originates from the historic city of the same name located in the Franconia region of Bavaria. In the German language, the name functions as a topographic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify people who lived in or came from the city of Würzburg. By the year 1672, records confirm that members of the family were established within the Bavarian region, living during a time when surnames were becoming increasingly fixed and hereditary. Because the city itself dates back to the early Middle Ages, the name likely emerged as a way to distinguish individuals who had migrated from the city to surrounding rural areas or neighboring towns. Over many generations, the name transitioned from a simple geographic descriptor into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through the male line.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Würz
Derived from the Middle High German word for herb or spice.
This name
WürzburgRefers to a person from the city of Würzburg, meaning fortress of herbs.
also spelled
Wuerzburg
Würzbergh
Würzburg-Burg
Vurzburg
Wurtsburg
Related arms
Bavièrerecorded with Würzburg, same area
Falckenbergrecorded with Würzburg, same area
Hesserecorded with Würzburg, same area
Schaumbergrecorded with Würzburg, same area
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
