A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alten family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 4444 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
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)
“D'arg. au chicot au nat., posé en pal. C.: deux prob., d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyBrunswick, c. 1765
Where the Alten Arms Were Recorded
Brunswick
Map of Germany showing where the Alten arms are recorded
The Alten arms were recorded in Brunswick, c. 1765.
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 Alten 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 Alten Family in Germany
The family name Alten traces its roots to the historic region of Lower Saxony in Germany. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family were well-established in the city of Brunswick, which served as a significant center for trade and culture within the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The name itself is topographic in origin, likely derived from the German word for old, suggesting that early ancestors lived near an ancient settlement or a landmark of significant age. During the 1760s, families with this name were integrated into the local social fabric, often participating in the professional and civic life of the region. As the family grew, they became part of the administrative and military history of the German states, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and social development common to families residing in the Harz mountain region during the Enlightenment era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“De gu. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois roses tigées et feuillées d'arg.”
BrabantBrabant, c. 1737
Where the Alten Arms Were Recorded
Brabant
Map of Belgium showing where the Alten arms are recorded
The Alten arms were recorded in Brabant, c. 1737.
Brabant lay at the heart of the Low Countries, where the trade routes met. Its towns were wealthy and its landowners many, and both kinds of family kept arms, which is why the region is so heavily represented.
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 Belgium in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Alten arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Belgium
In Belgium, a coat of arms is considered personal property that is passed down through the male line to legitimate descendants. Families often use the same shield design across generations to show their shared heritage. If a branch of the family wants to change the design, they must apply for an official update to their specific version of the arms.
Granting authority
The Conseil héraldique is the official body that regulates and approves all coats of arms in Belgium.
How they got arms
Families obtain their coats of arms through formal royal grants or by confirming their historical right to use existing designs.
Where arms were recorded
All approved coats of arms are officially recorded in the public registers of the Conseil héraldique since 1844.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Brabant.
Origin & History of the Alten Family in Belgium
The history of the Alten family in Belgium begins with documented roots in the historic Duchy of Brabant during the early eighteenth century. By 1737, members of the family were already established within this region, which served as a central hub for trade and cultural exchange in the Low Countries. During this period, the name was closely tied to the social and economic fabric of Brabant, a territory known for its complex administrative systems and local parish record-keeping. Families like the Altens often lived in areas defined by the shifting borders of the Austrian Netherlands, where they navigated the transition between rural agricultural life and the growing influence of nearby urban centers. Their presence in the region suggests a deep integration into the local community, likely involving involvement in the skilled trades or land management that characterized the Brabant economy at the time. Over the following decades, the family name became a quiet but persistent part of the local demographic landscape, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and family stability seen throughout the Belgian provinces during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alt
Old or ancient
This name
AltenRefers to someone who lived near an old settlement or an ancient landmark.
also spelled
Altin
Altenn
Altyn
Alton
Related arms
Ibziehsimilar arms
Altonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Grotefend, Hermann. Geschichte der Stadt Hannover. 1889
Stadtarchiv Braunschweig. Bürger- und Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Braunschweig. 1765
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
