Map of Germany showing where the Berenfeld arms are recorded
The Berenfeld 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 Berenfeld 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 Berenfeld Family in Germany
The family name Berenfeld is rooted in the German language, combining the words for bear and field. This type of surname often originated as a topographic name, which described the specific landscape where a family lived or worked. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Berenfeld family were established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, Bavaria was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and many families were deeply connected to the local agricultural economy. Life for the Berenfelds in the eighteenth century likely revolved around the seasonal rhythms of village life and the management of land. As the family grew, the name served as a way to identify their specific lineage within the tight-knit communities of southern Germany. This history reflects the broader movement of families across the Bavarian countryside as they sought stability and trade opportunities during the late Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bärenfeld
A compound of bear and field or open land.
This name
BerenfeldRefers to a person who lived near a field frequented by bears.
also spelled
Berenfeld
Berenfelt
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
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
