A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biela family of Germany.
Reg. 3174 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chicot d'or, en pal, accosté de deux membres d'oiseau adossés d'arg. C.: le chicot, entre un vol coupé d'azur sur arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Biela Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Biela arms are recorded
The Biela arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Biela 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Biela Family in Germany
The surname Biela is deeply rooted in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm the family was well-established by 1765. The name is derived from the Slavic word "biel," which translates to white or fair. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were likely identified by their physical appearance, such as having light hair or a pale complexion. During the eighteenth century, Silesia was a vibrant crossroads of culture and industry under the influence of the Prussian state. Families like the Bielas were typically part of the rural or emerging middle classes who lived in the fertile plains near the Oder River. As the region underwent significant administrative changes during this era, the Biela family remained a part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and communal life of the Silesian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
biel
Old High German term for an axe or a hatchet.
This name
BielaA topographic name for someone living near a white-colored area or a nickname for a pale person.
also spelled
Byela
Beela
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
