A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ansbach family of Germany.
Reg. 4851 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De sa. au lion d'or, tenant une faux d'arg., le fer en bas. C.: le lion, iss., entre deux prob., coupées de sa. sur or.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Ansbach Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Ansbach arms are recorded
The Ansbach arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Ansbach 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 Ansbach Family in Germany
The family name Ansbach is a toponymic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the name of a specific geographic location. The name traces back to the town of Ansbach in the region of Middle Franconia, Germany. During the Middle Ages, individuals often adopted the name of their hometown or region as a way to identify themselves when they traveled or settled in new areas. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a presence in the nearby city of Nuremberg. Records confirm that members of the family were living and working in Nuremberg by 1765, which was a major center for trade and craftsmanship during that era. As the family moved within the Franconian region, the name served as a lasting connection to their ancestral origins near the Ansbach territory.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Onolzbach
A stream or brook associated with the personal name Onol.
This name
AnsbachRefers to a person originating from the town of Ansbach, located by the Onolzbach stream.
also spelled
Anspach
Ansbacher
Anspacher
Ansbak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bader, Karl S., Studien zur Rechtsgeschichte des mittelalterlichen Dorfes, 1957
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
