A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bechstein family of Germany.
Reg. 2048 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 de gu. plein; au 2 fascé d'azur et d'arg., de quatre pièces C.: deux prob., celle à dextre de gu., celle à sen. aux armes du 2. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bechstein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bechstein arms are recorded
The Bechstein arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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 Bechstein 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 Bechstein Family in Germany
The surname Bechstein originates from the German language and is classified as a topographic name. It is derived from the combination of the words "Bach," meaning a stream or brook, and "Stein," meaning a stone or rock. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent stony creek or a rocky stream bed in the German-speaking regions. By 1765, records confirm that the family was well-established in Bavaria, a region known for its dense forests and mountainous terrain that provided many such landmarks. Over time, the name became a fixed identifier for families residing in these specific geographic settings, eventually passing down through generations as a permanent surname. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and craft-based economy of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bach
A small stream or brook.
This name
BechsteinA diminutive form referring to someone who lived near a small stream.
also spelled
Bechsteyn
Bekstein
Bekstine
Related arms
Pechensteinsimilar 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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Buchführung und Rechnungsunterlagen, 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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
