A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brendel family of Germany.
Reg. 0178 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à la fasce vivrée de gu. C.: un vol, aux armes de l'écu”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Brendel Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Brendel arms are recorded
The Brendel arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Brendel 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Brendel Family in Germany
The surname Brendel is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a nickname or a descriptive term for a person’s temperament or physical appearance. Etymologists often link the name to the Middle High German word "brand," which relates to fire or burning, suggesting that early ancestors may have been known for their fiery spirit or perhaps their work as charcoal burners or smiths. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing the Brendel name were well-established in the region of Silesia. During this era, Silesia was a vibrant cultural crossroads under Prussian influence, and families like the Brendels were often involved in the agricultural or artisanal trades that sustained the local economy. As these individuals moved through the villages and towns of the region, the name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers, marking their transition from nomadic laborers to settled members of the community.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brando
Derived from the Germanic word for sword or firebrand.
This name
BrendelA topographic name for someone living near a clearing made by burning brush.
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
