A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alberg family of Germany.
Reg. 9241 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une montagne d'or, mouv. de la p.; au chef du sec., ch. de deux étoiles (5) de gu. Brl. d'or et d'azur. C.: un senestrochère arm., posé sur le coude, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Alberg Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Alberg arms are recorded
The Alberg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Alberg 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Alberg Family in Germany
The family name Alberg traces its roots to the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1765. The name is generally classified as a topographic surname, which means it was likely derived from the physical landscape where the original ancestors lived. In the German language, the prefix "Al" often relates to high or elevated ground, while "berg" translates directly to mountain or hill. This suggests that the first people to carry the name were likely residents of a high-altitude settlement or a farm situated on a prominent slope within the Bavarian countryside. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture, and their surnames frequently served as a way to identify their specific homesteads or geographic origins to neighbors and local officials.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalberht
Derived from Germanic elements meaning noble and bright or famous.
This name
AlbergA topographic name for someone living near a mountain or a fortified hill.
also spelled
Albergh
Alberk
Albergue
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