The Schroeder name and its many spellings which include the popular forms of, Schroder, Schroter, and Schroeder originated as a description of an occupation of a person who worked as a garment maker or tailor. This may appear to be a humble beginning but families of the name emerged into some of the most powerful medieval Europe. As if to underline this statement, one roll of armorial grants contains no less than 20 issues to titled Schroders.

We find Schroders in the ranks of the Teutonic and Livonian Knights; others serving the kings, dukes and nobility of the Germanic Kingdoms. Schroders we Counts in Russia, Barons of Prussia, Austria and Germany, nobleman in Livonia, Denmark, and Holland.

It is difficult to select the armorial bearing which would be considered significant in so impressive an array of hearaldic grants as is listed for this family name. Thea coat of arms pictured is however, of great antiquity and is written in heraldic terms as "Quarterly, 1 and 4, sable a cross patee or;  2 & 3, or lion rampant sable."

The two "charges" or major symbols in the design are the cross and the lion, both of which have great symbolism in heraldry. The "cross patee" is of special significance because being a simple heraldic form it had religious connotations. It is so called because of its paw shape. Originally all ornamental crosses we called "patee" but later, variations of this cross were given their own names.

The lion is the other symbol in the arms and is considered the "king of beasts."  From the dawn of heraldry, the lion has been borne of the shield of sovereign and nobles as well as those of lesser rank. From its first appearance on a shield, the lion was represented in a stylish form rather than true to nature. Originally, the heraldic lion was pictured in one position, erect with one paw on the ground and the other three raised, with head in profile. This is now known as a lion rampant, symbolic of fierce character, courage and bravery.

MOTTO: Allein beim Christus den ewigen freiheit.
First found in Eastern Prussia and Austria, where they became entrenched as one of the notable families of the northern region. 
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Hans Schroeder, who was the first Schroeder to arrive in the New World. He came with his wife, Aeltje Jans, to New York in 1641. The next to come was Johann Arnoltt Schrodter, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738. Henrich Schroeder arrived in Pennsylvania sometime between 1741 and 1767, while Joachim Schroeder came to Noblestown in 1777 at the age of 18. Bearers of the variation Schroeter emigrated mainly to Texas: Carl Schroeter arrived there in 1852, as did Friedke Schroeter and Wilhelm Schroeter, while O. Schroeter arrived there in 1860. 

SCHROEDER FAMILY CREST