A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Birkenstock family of Germany.
Reg. 6687 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à deux fasces d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la demi-aigle de sa., mouv. du parti. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un vol cont. aux armes du 1; 1. d'or et de sa.; 2º une aigle de sa.; l. d'arg. et de sa.”
GermanyNassau, c. 1765
Where the Birkenstock Arms Were Recorded
Nassau
Map of Germany showing where the Birkenstock arms are recorded
The Birkenstock arms were recorded in Nassau, c. 1765.
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 Birkenstock 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 Birkenstock Family in Germany
The family name Birkenstock is rooted in the German language and describes a person who lived near a prominent birch tree or a clearing where birch trees had been cut down. The name combines the German words for birch, which is birke, and a stump or log, which is stock. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Birkenstock family were established in the region of Nassau, a historic area in what is now Germany. During this period, families often took their surnames from the natural landscape surrounding their homes or their specific trade. As the family grew, they became part of the local community in Nassau, where they lived as craftsmen and laborers for several generations before the name eventually spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Birke and Stock
Birch tree and tree trunk or stick
This name
BirkenstockA topographic name for someone living near a birch tree or a birch wood.
also spelled
Birkenstok
Birkenstoc
Berkenstok
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
Heß, Ulrich, Die Birkenstocks: Eine Familiengeschichte aus dem Nassauischen, 1988
Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Bestand 171: Zivilstandsregister der Ämter im Herzogtum Nassau, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
