A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bartels family of Germany.
Reg. 0120 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au sauvage de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, posé de front, adextré d'un arbre de sin. qu'il empoigne de sa main dextre au-dessous du feuillage, le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. C.: le sauvage, iss., portant l'arbre arr. sur son épaule. L. d'or et de sin.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Bartels Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bartels arms are recorded
The Bartels arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Bartels 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Bartels Family in Germany
The surname Bartels originated as a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the first name of a father or ancestor. It is a shortened form of the name Bartholomew, which was a very common name throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. By the time your ancestors were established in Bavaria in 1765, the name had already been in use for several centuries across German-speaking regions. Families with this name were typically part of the working class, often consisting of farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople who lived in rural villages. Because the name was tied to a popular saint, it spread easily across different provinces as families moved for work or marriage. Over generations, the spelling evolved to fit local dialects, eventually settling into the version you recognize today.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomaeus
Aramaic name meaning son of Talmai or son of the furrows.
This name
BartelsA patronymic surname derived from the medieval personal name Bartel, a short form of Bartholomew.
also spelled
Bartel
Related arms
Ahrenssimilar arms
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der katholischen Pfarreien, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
