A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bogen family of Germany.
Reg. 5912 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
Colours
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)
“D'or à un arc de sa., en fasce. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'or, coiffé d'un bonnet albanais d'or, houppé et retr. du même, décochant une flèche de sa. d'un arc du même.”
GermanyRothenburg Bav, c. 1765
Where the Bogen Arms Were Recorded
Rothenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Bogen arms are recorded
The Bogen arms were recorded in Rothenburg Bav, 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 Bogen 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 Bogen Family in Germany
The surname Bogen is rooted in the landscape and language of medieval Germany. The name is often classified as a topographic surname, meaning it likely originated from individuals who lived near a specific landmark, such as a curved river bend or a bow-shaped piece of land. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in the historic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Bogen family were active participants in the local community during this period. At that time, Rothenburg was a center of trade and craft, and families like the Bogens were typically integrated into the town’s social and economic life through local guilds or agricultural work. This period of residency suggests that the family had long-standing ties to the Franconian region, contributing to the local culture and history of this well-preserved medieval city.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bogo
Old Germanic element meaning bow or archer.
This name
BogenOccupational name for a bow maker or a topographic name for someone living near an arch.
also spelled
Bogn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Rothenburg ob der Tauber (1700–1800)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1972
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1982
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
bowReadiness, and the strength held in reserve
