A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bolte family of Germany.
Reg. 6109 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à une flèche de sa., empennée d'azur, posée en pal. Cq. cour. C.: la flèche, entre deux prob. d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1796
Where the Bolte Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Bolte arms are recorded
The Bolte arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1796.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Bolte 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Bolte Family in Germany
The surname Bolte is rooted in the Low German linguistic tradition, originating as a descriptive nickname for a person who was perceived as quick, bold, or perhaps as stubborn as a bolt. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the Mecklenburg region of northern Germany. During this period, the social structure of Mecklenburg was heavily centered on agrarian life and the manorial system, meaning that families like the Boltes were often deeply connected to the land and local village communities. Records from 1796 confirm their presence in this area, where they likely served as farmers, craftsmen, or laborers within the rural hierarchy of the time. As the name evolved, it remained closely tied to the regional dialects of the north, reflecting the practical and hardworking nature of the families who carried it through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bold
Derived from the Germanic word for bold, brave, or daring.
This name
BolteA nickname for a courageous person or one who is exceptionally bold.
also spelled
Boltt
Boltee
Bolteh
Bolty
Related arms
Boltvariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
