A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Buel family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1818 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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.; au chef d'azur, ch. de trois fleurs-de-lis d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un lion iss. d'arg. L. de gu. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Buel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Buel arms are recorded
The Buel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Buel 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 Buel Family in Germany
The family name Buel has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm the presence of family members as early as 1765. During this period, the region was part of the Holy Roman Empire and was characterized by a strong agricultural economy and a complex social structure tied to the land. Families with this name likely lived in small rural communities where they were involved in local farming or skilled trades that supported the village. Because the name is linked to this specific geographic area, it is probable that the family was part of the traditional Bavarian social fabric for generations before these official records were created. Life for these early ancestors revolved around the changing seasons, the local parish church, and the customs of the Bavarian countryside, which helped shape the identity of the family long before they began to migrate to other parts of the world.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à une fleur-de-lis d'or; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. au chev. d'azur, acc. en chef de deux étoiles (5) d'or et en p. d'un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Buel Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Buel arms are recorded
The Buel arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Buel Family in Switzerland
The family name Buel has deep roots in the Swiss canton of Bern, where records confirm members of the family were established by the mid-18th century. During this era, Bern was a powerful city-state governed by a strict social hierarchy, and families like the Buels were often integrated into the local agricultural or craft-based economy. The name itself likely originated from a geographic descriptor, as the term "Büel" or "Bühl" refers to a small hill or a mound of earth in the local Alemannic German dialect. Because surnames were often tied to the specific landscape where a family lived, the Buels were likely recognized as people who resided near a prominent rise in the terrain. By 1745, these families were well-embedded in the civic life of the region, participating in the local parish systems that tracked births, marriages, and deaths to maintain order within the Swiss cantons.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bühel
A Middle High German term for a hill or mound.
This name
BuelA topographic name for someone who lived on or near a hill.
also spelled
Bull
Related arms
Bullvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
