A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alspach family of Germany.
Reg. 9370 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a bend cottised within a bordure engr. in the sinister corner a mullet pierced sa”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Alspach Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Alspach arms are recorded
The Alspach 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 Alspach 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 Alspach Family in Germany
The Alspach family name originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, with deep roots established in the Bavarian landscape by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is topographical, likely derived from the combination of the German words for "old" and "brook" or "stream," which suggests that the earliest ancestors were identified by the specific water source near their homestead. By 1765, records indicate that families bearing this name were well-integrated into the agricultural and social fabric of Bavaria. Life during this era was defined by the rhythms of the seasons and the local feudal systems that governed land ownership and trade. As members of the community, the Alspachs were typically involved in farming or skilled craftsmanship, contributing to the steady development of their local villages before some branches of the family eventually sought new opportunities through migration in the following century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alsbach
A stream flowing through an area with eel populations.
This name
AlspachDerived from a topographic location near a brook or stream inhabited by eels.
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bordureA difference between branches of one family
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
