A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bellin family of Germany.
Reg. 1241 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à une tête et col d'aigle de sa., bq. d'or, languée de gu. C.: trois plumes de paon au nat.”
BrandenburgBrandenburg, c. 1751
Where the Bellin Arms Were Recorded
Brandenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Bellin arms are recorded
The Bellin arms were recorded in Brandenburg, c. 1751.
Brandenburg was sandy farming country around Berlin, held in large estates by families who served as officers. Land and military service each brought arms, and most families there had both.
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 Bellin 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 Brandenburg.
Origin & History of the Bellin Family in Germany
The family name Bellin is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of northern Germany, particularly within the region of Brandenburg. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area, living through a time of significant agricultural and social development under the Prussian monarchy. The name itself is thought to be locational in origin, likely derived from the town of Bellin near the city of Wittstock. In the German language, such names were often adopted by individuals who moved from a specific village to a new town, serving as a way to identify their place of birth or former residence to their new neighbors. As these families settled into the rural communities of Brandenburg in 1751, they became part of the backbone of local society, working as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople who helped shape the identity of the region during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bello
Latin term meaning beautiful, handsome, or fair.
This name
BellinA habitational name derived from the town of Bellin or a nickname for a handsome person.
also spelled
Belin
Related arms
Lignitzsimilar arms
Lucksimilar arms
Belinvariant spelling
le Belinvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Brandenburgisches Landeshauptarchiv, General-Tabellen der Städte und Flecken der Kurmark Brandenburg. 1751
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eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
