A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Adelstein family of Germany.
Reg. 4123 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à une équerre de sa., celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. au lion d'or, celui du 3 cont. Sur le tout d'arg. à l'aigle de sa., cour d'or. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1o une aigle cont. de sa., cour. d'or; l. d'arg. et de sa.; 2o le lion du 2, iss.; l. d'arg. et de sa.”
BavariaBade · Bavaria, c. 1569
Where the Adelstein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Adelstein arms are recorded
The Adelstein arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1569.
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.
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
1564–1576
Reigning in Germany when the Adelstein 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 Adelstein Family in Germany
The family name Adelstein emerged in the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1569. The name is composed of two German words, *adel* meaning noble and *stein* meaning stone. During the sixteenth century, many families in this region adopted surnames that reflected their local environment or their perceived social standing. Because Bavaria was a hub for trade and craftsmanship during the Renaissance, families like the Adelsteins often settled in growing towns or rural estates to work in agriculture or specialized trades. Over the following centuries, the family became part of the broader social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire, moving through the changing political landscapes of Central Europe while maintaining their connection to their Bavarian roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adel and Stein
Noble and stone or rock.
This name
AdelsteinA topographic name for someone living near a noble or prominent stone formation.
also spelled
Adelsteyn
Adelsten
Adelstine
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lionCourage, strength and royalty
