A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bielefeld family of Germany.
Reg. 2473 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“un vol à l'antique, d'arg. et de gu. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Bielefeld Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bielefeld arms are recorded
The Bielefeld 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 Bielefeld 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 Bielefeld Family in Germany
The surname Bielefeld is a locative name, meaning it was originally derived from the geographic location where a family lived. The name translates from German as "field of the bee," likely referring to a meadow or clearing that was known for its abundance of wildflowers and honeybees. While the name is famously associated with a city in the Westphalian region of Germany, historical records confirm that members of the family were established in Bavaria by 1765. During this era, families often moved across German territories to find better agricultural land or to pursue new trades. As these individuals settled in the Bavarian region, they carried the name with them, helping to spread it far from its northern origins. By the mid-18th century, the family had become part of the local social fabric, contributing to the rural and developing communities of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biele-feld
A combination of open land or field and a clearing.
This name
BielefeldRefers to a person originating from the city of Bielefeld in Westphalia.
also spelled
Byelefeld
Beelefeld
Related arms
von Rodesimilar arms
Bilefeldvariant spelling
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
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
vol / wingsSwiftness and protection
