A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coburg family of Germany.
Reg. 8070 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. plein; au 2 d'arg. au pal de gu.; au 3 d'arg. plein. C.: une”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Coburg Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Coburg arms are recorded
The Coburg arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many 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 Coburg 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Coburg Family in Germany
The family name Coburg is deeply rooted in the historical region of Franconia, which is located in the northern part of modern-day Bavaria. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established residents within this area. The name itself is topographical, meaning it was likely derived from the town of Coburg or the surrounding district. In the eighteenth century, Franconia was a patchwork of small territories governed by various nobles and religious leaders. Families living in this region often identified themselves by their local geography to distinguish their origins during a time when people began moving more frequently between villages and towns. Because the name is tied to this specific landscape, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers, tradespeople, or local craftsmen who played a steady role in the development of their community long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kobu
An old Germanic personal name or a settlement near a hill.
This name
CoburgRefers to a fortress or settlement located on a hill or rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Koburg
Cobourg
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), General-Landes-Direktion, Akten der Regierung zu Bamberg
Hofmann, Hanns, Historisches Namenbuch des bayerischen Untermaingebietes, 1974
State Archive of Coburg (Staatsarchiv Coburg), Landesarchiv Coburg, Bestand A (Älteres Archiv)
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
