A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernstein family of Germany.
Reg. 0074 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
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 l'ours ramp. de sa. Cq. cour. C.: l'ours, iss.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Bernstein Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Bernstein arms are recorded
The Bernstein arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Bernstein 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Bernstein Family in Germany
The name Bernstein is a German topographic surname that translates literally to amber stone. During the Middle Ages, many families adopted names based on the natural resources found in their local regions or the specific materials they traded. By the mid-18th century, the Bernstein family was well-established in the region of Saxony. At that time, Saxony was a major center for commerce and craftsmanship in Central Europe. Families living there often moved between agricultural villages and growing urban centers to work as merchants or skilled laborers. Because the name Bernstein was associated with a valuable commodity, it likely identified early ancestors who either lived near amber deposits or worked as artisans who polished and sold the stone. By 1765, the family had become a stable part of the Saxon population, contributing to the local economy and the social fabric of the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bernstein
German for amber, derived from brennen meaning to burn.
This name
BernsteinAn occupational name for a dealer in amber or someone living near amber deposits.
also spelled
Bernsteyn
Bernstien
Bernsteen
Bernstine
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
