I need to rewrite this page based on new information. I will get around to it someday soon I hope.

This image is found in the book "Sy Hugenotten: Stammtafeln der Familien Sy aus der Uckermark" by Johanna Oqueka and Hans Wendt. On the bottom is written "Sy de Montseiller". Another source describes the coat of arms as a seal on a watch chain. This may have been a medallion worn on a watch chain by Louis Rudolph Friedrich Sy a curator of the city museum in Danzig who died in 1887.

The following description of the Sy Coat of Arms comes from the book "Sy Hugenotten".

In the preface it has the following:

"Aus welcher, Zeit das Wappen der Sy's stammt, ließ sich nicht feststellen. Es zeigt einen roten Hahn grün-weißen Feld."

This translates to the following:

"It could not be determined from which time the coat of arms of the Sy's originates. It shows a red cock on green-white field."

The motto "HORS D'HONNEUR AUCUN DE BONHEUR" means "WITHOUT HONOR THERE IS NO HAPPINESS."

The coat of arms below was donated to the SDP Archive in Germany by Antoine Hermann Sy (b. 1822, d.1899). The coat of arms is published with permission of the SDP Archive.

Due to the similarity of the designs, I looked for a common source; however, I have not been able to find a common ancestor.

I have the following correspondence between Robert Sy and Dr. Richard Sy from the late 1880's.

Dr. Richard Sy wrote, "The first cousin I got to know which was a lucky incident ... [this part is not readable] ... will tell you that there was a historical painter named Louis Sy, also curator of the town museum in Danzig. The same died less then a year ago without male descendants. As far as I know, age 60 years. I owe it to him besides other valuable information a sketch of our family herald, which he carries as a PETSCHAFT [I can not translate this word] at his watch chain, but which he sadly lost. I let a knowing person rework the sketch and send the copy in for criticism but only the second draft was acceptable, and of this I send you a photograph, which hopefully will be welcomed by You as a cousin and artist."

Contrary to popular belief, the use of a coat-of-arms was not limited to nobility. The French allowed artisans, craftsmen, and professionals to use coat-of-arms. I have found the same Red Cock on Walloon flags. It is a Red Cock, Bold (leg raised), Armed (claws showing), and Crowing (mouth open). The Huguenots were Christian, and in Christianity the cock is a symbol of vigilance and resurrection. The cock is a creature of the dawn and crows when the sun rises in the east.

Having written all this, what does it mean if the Sy family used a coat-of-arms? Not much! From what I know of the recent Sy family (16th. century to present), the ancestor was probably not a Baron, Marquis, or Lord. He was most likely a Merchant, Book Publisher, Cabinet Maker, or Brewer.