A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burgdorf family of Germany.
Reg. 7746 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 deux pals d'arg.; ou: D'arg. à deux pals de gu.; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout; ou: Palé de gu. et d'arg. de quatre pièces; à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout. Cq. cour. C.: deux bras, arm. d'arg., tenant chacun trois pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Burgdorf arms are recorded
The Burgdorf 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 Burgdorf 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 Burgdorf Family in Germany
The family name Burgdorf is a topographic surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. In German, the name translates literally to "castle village" or "fortified town," suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near or within a protected settlement. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that members of the Burgdorf family were established in the region of Silesia. During this period, Silesia was a vibrant area undergoing significant social and economic changes under Prussian rule. Families with this name were often tied to the land or the local administration of these fortified towns, reflecting a history of living in areas designed for security and trade. As the family moved and grew throughout the 1700s, the name served as a permanent link to their geographic origins and their historical connection to the defensive structures of the German-speaking lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg and Dorf
Fortified settlement or castle and a village or hamlet.
This name
BurgdorfRefers to a person who originated from a village located near a castle or fortified town.
also spelled
Burgsdorff
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
Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu (State Archives in Wrocław), Akta stanu cywilnego (Civil Registration Records), 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
