A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bertsch family of Germany.
Reg. 1824 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Bandé de sa. et d'or, de huit pièces; à la champagne du premier, ch. d'un tertre du sec. C.: un vol, coupé alt. d'or et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Bertsch Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bertsch arms are recorded
The Bertsch arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Bertsch 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Bertsch Family in Germany
The surname Bertsch is a patronymic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the ancient Germanic name Berht, which translates to bright or famous. Over many centuries, the name evolved into various short forms and nicknames as families settled in specific regions. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Bertsch family had established a notable presence in the Bavarian region. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the family were living in these southern German lands, where they likely worked as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople. During this era, families often stayed in the same rural villages for generations, which helped the name become deeply rooted in the local culture and history of Bavaria.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berht
Old High German word meaning bright, famous, or shining.
This name
BertschA diminutive form of names containing the element bright, signifying a famous or illustrious person.
also spelled
Bertsche
Bertsh
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
