A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Behrends family of Germany.
Reg. 0035 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. à un arbre de sin., senestré d'un ours de sa., ramp. contre le fût. C.: l'ours, iss.”
GermanyFrancfort s, c. 1765
Where the Behrends Arms Were Recorded
Francfort s
Map of Germany showing where the Behrends arms are recorded
The Behrends arms were recorded in Francfort s, 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 Behrends 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 Behrends Family in Germany
The surname Behrends is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify someone as the son of a man named Berend. The name Berend itself is a shortened form of Bernhard, a popular Germanic name that combines the words for bear and brave. By the time the family was documented in Frankfurt in 1765, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the eighteenth century, families in this region often used these names to distinguish themselves within growing urban centers. As the Behrends family settled into life in Frankfurt, they likely participated in the city’s vibrant trade and craft guilds. This transition from a simple description of a person to a permanent family name reflects the broader shift in European society toward formal record-keeping and organized civil identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning bear and hardy or brave.
This name
BehrendsA patronymic surname signifying son of the brave bear-like warrior.
also spelled
Berends
Behrendt
Related arms
Berendsvariant 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 Familiennamen, geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt am Main, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
