A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barthels family of Germany.
Reg. 4685 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé : au 1 d'azur à trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'or, abaissées sous un croiss. versé et figuré du même; au 2 d'arg. à trois branches de sin., mouv. d'un tertre du même. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'un parti d'azur et d'arg., tenant de sa main dextre le croiss., tourné, et de sa sen. une des branches L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Barthels Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Barthels arms are recorded
The Barthels 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 Barthels 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 Barthels Family in Germany
The surname Barthels originates as a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a variation of the name Bartholomew, which was a very popular choice throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. By the time the family was documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had become a stable identifier for a specific lineage. During this period, Nuremberg was a thriving center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Barthels often played roles in the city’s bustling merchant or artisan guilds. Because the name was tied to a common baptismal name, it appeared in various forms across different German-speaking regions, but the specific spelling of Barthels suggests a distinct branch that settled in the Franconian region. These early family members likely lived through the transition from the late Holy Roman Empire into a more modern era of urban record-keeping, which helped solidify their family identity within the city archives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bartholomaeus
Aramaic name meaning son of Talmai or son of the furrow.
This name
BarthelsA patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of Bartholomew, signifying son of Bartholomew.
also spelled
Barthel
Bartels
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
branchPeace, and new growth
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
branchPeace, and new growth
