Map of Germany showing where the Zastrow arms are recorded
The Zastrow arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Zastrow 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Zastrow Family in Germany
The Zastrow family name has deep roots in the historical region of Pomerania, which was once a powerful territory along the Baltic Sea. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-established in this area, with records confirming their presence there by 1765. The name itself is of Slavic origin, likely derived from the old term "zastrow," which refers to a person living near a specific type of fence or defensive boundary. During this period, the family members were often part of the local landowning class or served in administrative roles within the Prussian state. As the region underwent significant political changes, the Zastrow family remained a consistent part of the local landscape, contributing to the agricultural and social development of their communities for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sastrow
A Slavic term referring to a place of residence or settlement.
This name
ZastrowDerived from a locative name indicating someone who lived at or near a specific settlement.
also spelled
Sastrow
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Berghaus, Heinrich, Landbuch des Herzogthums Pommern und des Fürstenthums Rügen, 1865
Kneschke, Ernst Heinrich, Neues allgemeines deutsches Adels-Lexicon, 1870
State Archive in Szczecin (Archiwum Państwowe w Szczecinie), Akta miasta Szczecina, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
branchPeace, and new growth
branchPeace, and new growth
