A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Breidenbach family of Germany.
Reg. 0175 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à la bande ondée d'arg. C.: deux prob. de gu. (ou deux prob. aux armes de l'écu.)”
HesseHesse, c. 1765
Where the Breidenbach Arms Were Recorded
Hesse
Map of Germany showing where the Breidenbach arms are recorded
The Breidenbach arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1765.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of coats of arms.
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 Breidenbach 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 Hesse.
Origin & History of the Breidenbach Family in Germany
The surname Breidenbach is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific geographic place rather than a trade or personal trait. The name is derived from the town of Breidenbach, located in the modern-day state of Hesse, Germany. In the German language, the name combines the words "breit," meaning broad or wide, and "bach," meaning a stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to adopt the name likely lived near a wide section of a local creek or river in the Hessian countryside. By the mid-18th century, families carrying this name were well-established within the region, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in Hesse by 1765. As these individuals moved away from their ancestral home, they carried the name with them, turning a simple description of a landscape feature into a lasting family identity that has been passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Breiten Bach
Broad or wide stream or brook.
This name
BreidenbachRefers to a person who lived near a wide or broad stream.
also spelled
Brydenbak
Related arms
Bickenbachrecorded with Breidenbach, same area
Friedrichrecorded with Breidenbach, same area
Gerlachrecorded with Breidenbach, same area
Heyer de Rosenfeldrecorded with Breidenbach, same area
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
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei Breidenbach, 1765
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
