A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Averbach family of Germany.
Reg. 9640 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de sa., ch. d'un annelet d'or et acc. en chef d'un lion naiss. de gu., mouv. de la fasce. C.: un chapeau de tournoi de sa., retr. d'arg., sommé d'une boule du même; ledit chapeau posé entre un vol de gu. (Arm. v. G.)”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Averbach Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Averbach arms are recorded
The Averbach arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Averbach 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Averbach Family in Germany
The surname Averbach originates from the German language and is classified as a topographic name. It is derived from the combination of the words "Aver," which refers to a type of horse or a stream, and "Bach," which means a brook or creek. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a specific water source or a farmstead characterized by these features. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Westphalia region of Germany. During this era, families in Westphalia were often tied to the land through agriculture or local trade. As the family grew, they moved through various German-speaking territories, eventually spreading the name across Europe. The name serves as a historical marker of the family’s deep roots in the rural landscapes of eighteenth-century Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Auerbach
A meadow or stream associated with a meadow
This name
AverbachDerived from a German place name meaning meadow brook or stream
also spelled
Averbak
Averbash
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Personenstandsregister und Kirchenbücher, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
lionCourage, strength and royalty
