A Crash Course in German Heraldry

If you've ever stumbled upon a coat of arms with a lion wearing stripes or a symbol that looks like it came out of a fantasy game, welcome to German heraldry!

Heraldry in Germany is one of Europe’s four main branches of heraldic tradition, right up there with British, Latin, and Eastern styles. But instead of one clear rulebook, it grew out of the patchwork of kingdoms, cities, and church states in the old Holy Roman Empire. 

What is German Heraldry?

German heraldry refers to the coat of arms systems that developed in the German-speaking regions of the former Holy Roman Empire. Think of it as medieval design but with a distinct Central European twist.

Unlike British or French systems, heraldry in Germany has a few key differences:

• More flexibility in design

• Less strict class distinctions

• Wildly patterned animals (yes, even striped lions)

• A deep influence on surrounding Nordic traditions
  

German vs. English Heraldry

Even Munich’s arms feature natural human tones, which are a rare but striking choice in heraldic practice! 

 

Animals in German Heraldry

Two powerful beasts dominate German coats of arms:

• The eagle is a symbol of imperial authority linked to the Holy Roman Empire.

• The lion, representing Christian sovereignty and feudal might is wielded by houses like the Hohenstaufen and Welf.

Medieval politics became visualized in heraldic art, so much so that these animals became national symbols. 

What’s behind Germany’s striped and checked lions?

Patterned animals set German heraldry apart. Lions often appear in: 

• Barry (horizontal bands) - These appear on Hesse’s coat of arms, featuring a lion with silver and red stripes. This design first appeared in the 13th century and remains in the modern state arms.

• Paly (vertical stripes)

• Chequy (checkerboards)
  
  

Heraldic Language of Colors

Usually referred to by their French counterparts, colors or tinctures in Germany use their own language. 

• Schwarz = black (sable)

• Rot = red (gules)

• Gold = gold (Or)

• Silber = silver (argent)

• Weiß = white (occasionally used interchangeably with silver)

German heraldry also uses the color pink (which is not typical for many English family crests) to show natural hues like the skin. 

Did the German everyday folk also have coats of arms?

In Germany, burghers (artisans, merchants, and farmers) freely used coats of arms. Known as burgher arms, these designs rooted themselves in daily life. 

You’ll often find symbols like:

• Shears/Scissors from tailors

• Hammers from blacksmiths

• Barrels from brewers

German burgher arms fused into Nordic heraldry, like in medieval Stockholm. So if your ancestors were part of the working or merchant class, they may still have had a family crest, one linked to a profession they practiced with pride!

 

What are house marks in German Heraldry? 

Families used simple carved symbols known as house marks. Much like a signature, these marks were personal and practical, carved into homes, tools, and livestock. Some even resembled ancient runes, which were part of early Germanic alphabets. 

Runes eventually made their way into German heraldry, as seen in places like Hiddensee, which still uses these marks in their municipal heraldry. 

So, those cool symbols might be at your family’s doorstep too. Another reason to check and find your family crest!

 

Notable German families and their family crests

Here are a few widely recognized heraldic examples, each providing a quick insight into their history:

• House of Habsburg
  Originating around Habsburg Castle in the 11th century, the Habsburgs became Europe's dominant dynasty. Their coat of arms famously included the Austrian red-white-red stripe. 

• House of Wittelsbach
  Rulers of Bavaria from 1180 to 1918, their blue-and-white diamonds (lozenges) started with Louis I’s marriage to the Countess of Bogen in 1242.

• Landgraves of Hesse/Thuringia
  The “colorful lion” (red and silver striped) was introduced by Landgrave Konrad of Thuringia in the early 13th century.
  
  

German Heraldry Abroad

Thanks to trade, migration, and a whole lot of marriage, German heraldry didn’t stay put. German burgher arms strongly influenced Swedish heraldry, especially in cities like Stockholm with large German populations.

So if your roots trace back to Sweden and Germany, your family crest might be a cross-cultural masterpiece. 

 

Can people’s coats of arms evolve?

Yes, and this is where it gets flexible. A family branch might change a color, add a charge (symbol), or swap out the crest entirely. This can reflect a marriage, a move to a new town, or just personal style for their own coat of arms.

This adaptability makes it even more exciting to look into family history and discover what your ancestors’ lives reveal. You might find variations based on location, occupation, or even personality. 

 

How to Find Your German Family Crest

Ready to dig into your roots? Here’s how to get started:

1. Know your surname and region. Specificity helps!

2. Check armorial databases or historical heraldic registries. You can use online (Ancestry, National Archives) and offline resources (city libraries, directories, obituaries, employment records). 

3. Look for visual clues: family heirlooms, scrapbooks, tableware, or gravestones with symbols. If you have a family tree, you can start your investigation from there! 

4. Can’t find anything? Our team can help you find your family crest using historical records and illustrate your ancestors’ symbols to life care of our amazing artists. 

Who knows what you might uncover? 

Why It’s Worth Looking Into

Whether you’re deep into genealogy or just want to add a cool icon to your stationery, German heraldry is a great way to connect with your past. 

Best of all? It’s not reserved for kings and knights. If your family has roots in the German-speaking world, there’s a good chance your crest is out there! 

 

 

Image credits

• Imperial coat of arms (Römischer Kayserlicher und Königlicher Mayestät Wappen) from Siebmachers Wappenbuch (1605) via Wikimedia Commons, source
• The Holy Roman Empire and its member states, 1510 via Wikimedia Commons, source
• Coat of arms of Hesse via Wikimedia Commons, source
• the arms of the guild of barber-surgeons via Wikimedia Commons, source