A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barthold family of Germany.
Reg. 5031 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 d'or au griffon de sa.; au 2 d'azur à la barre, accostée en chef de deux roses et acc. en p. d'une troisième rose, le tout d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un griffon iss. de sa., tenant dans ses pattes une branche de rosier tigée de sin., fleurie de trois pièces mal-ordonnées d'arg L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1730
Where the Barthold Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Barthold arms are recorded
The Barthold arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1730.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Barthold 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Barthold Family in Germany
The surname Barthold originates from the ancient Germanic given name Berthold, which combines the elements for "bright" and "ruler." Over many centuries, this name evolved from a personal identifier into a hereditary family name as populations grew and record-keeping became more formal. By the early 18th century, members of the Barthold family were well-established in the region of Pomerania, a historical area along the southern shore of the Baltic Sea. During this period, the family likely lived as part of the rural or merchant classes, navigating the complex social and political changes occurring within the Prussian territories. Because Pomerania was a crossroads for trade and migration, the family name became deeply rooted in the local culture, reflecting a long history of resilience and adaptation in Northern Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht-wald
Bright or famous ruler or power
This name
BartholdDerived from Germanic elements meaning bright ruler or famous leader
also spelled
Bartold
Bartholt
Related arms
Bartholtvariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Greifswald, Kirchenbücher der Provinz Pommern, 1730
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
