A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Apel family of Germany.
Reg. 7360 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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. à la croix d'arg., ch. de quatre écussons de gu., les pieds dirigés vers le centre de la croix. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Apel Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Apel arms are recorded
The Apel 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 Apel 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 Apel Family in Germany
The surname Apel is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a short form of the given name Albrecht or Abel. During the Middle Ages, it was common for families to adopt these shortened nicknames as permanent identifiers as populations grew and record-keeping became more formal. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Apel family had established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. At that time, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. Families living there were often involved in the city’s thriving guilds, which controlled the production of metalwork, clocks, and scientific instruments. The presence of the Apel name in 1765 suggests that these ancestors were likely integrated into the urban middle class, contributing to the economic and social life of one of Germany’s most important historical cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Appel
A diminutive form of the Germanic personal name Albrecht or Apollonius.
This name
ApelA patronymic surname derived from a short form of Albert, meaning noble and bright.
also spelled
Appel
Apple
Related arms
Appelvariant spelling
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
cross symbolChristian faith and service
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
