Map of Germany showing where the Breslin arms are recorded
The Breslin arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Breslin 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Breslin Family in Germany
The Breslin family name has deep roots tied to the region of Westphalia, where members of the family were documented as early as 1765. During this period, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and growing trade centers within the Holy Roman Empire. Families living in this area often took names that reflected their specific location or their role within the local village structure. As the 18th century progressed, the Breslin family became part of the social fabric of the region, navigating the economic shifts and political changes that defined life in western Germany. By maintaining their presence in these rural and semi-urban settings, the family helped shape the local culture and contributed to the development of their community over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Breasail
Derived from the Gaelic word for high or noble.
This name
BreslinAn Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Breasláin, meaning descendant of the noble one.
also spelled
Bireklyn
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Klocke, Helmut von. Westfalen: Eine Landeskunde. 1958
LWL-Archivamt für Westfalen. Kirchenbücher der katholischen und evangelischen Gemeinden in Westfalen. 1765
Schäfer, Alfons. Die Geschichte Westfalens. 1972
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bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
