A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Arensdorf family of Germany.
Reg. 0922 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 échiq. d'or et de sa.; au 2 d'or au lion de sa., cour. d'or. C.: le lion, iss.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Arensdorf Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Arensdorf arms are recorded
The Arensdorf arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Arensdorf 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Arensdorf Family in Germany
The family name Arensdorf originates from the German language and follows a naming pattern common in Central Europe during the Middle Ages. It is a topographic surname, which means it was likely derived from a specific place name. The name combines the element "Aren," which is a variation of the name Arnold or a reference to an eagle, with the suffix "dorf," meaning village. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Silesia. At that time, Silesia was a vibrant area under the control of the Kingdom of Prussia, and families with this name were often involved in local agriculture or trade within the rural communities of the province. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local economy and the development of the towns where they settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Arensdorf
A village or farmstead belonging to a person named Arno.
This name
ArensdorfDerived from the Germanic name Arno meaning eagle, combined with the suffix dorf meaning village or settlement.
also spelled
Arensdorfe
Arensdorff
Arensdor
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Schlesisches Namenbuch. 1953
Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, I. HA Rep. 176: General-Direktorium, Kurmärkische Kammer
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
