A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bein family of Germany.
Reg. 5038 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
helmetWisdom and security in defence
ramLeadership and authority
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: au 1 d'or à la cuirasse d'azur; au 2 de gu. plein; au 3 de gu. au bélier militaire d'arg., en fasce; au 4 d'or à la tour de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bein arms are recorded
The Bein 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 Bein 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 Bein Family in Germany
The family name Bein is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is categorized as a topographic or descriptive surname, likely originating from the Middle High German word "bein," which translates to bone or leg. In the context of early naming conventions, this term was often used as a nickname for a person with a distinctive gait or perhaps someone who worked as a bone carver or craftsman. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Bein family were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, the family was part of the local social fabric, living through a time of significant agricultural and administrative changes in the Bavarian Electorate. As the family grew, they integrated into the local village economies, often working as skilled tradespeople or farmers who contributed to the stability of their communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bein
Middle High German word for leg or bone.
This name
BeinA topographic or occupational name for someone with a distinctive leg or a bone carver.
also spelled
Beyn
Bine
Byn
Bain
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
helmetWisdom and security in defence
ramLeadership and authority
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
helmetWisdom and security in defence
ramLeadership and authority
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
