A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dannenberg family of Germany.
Reg. 8229 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Echiq. d'azur et d'arg.; à deux fasces d'or, br. sur l'échiqueté. Cq. cour. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu. L. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux lions d'or. D.: TUGEND EHR UND WEHR.”
Germanyc. 1725
Where the Dannenberg Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Dannenberg arms are recorded
The Dannenberg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1725.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Dannenberg 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 Dannenberg Family in Germany
The surname Dannenberg is a topographical name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts, with "Danne" referring to a fir or pine tree and "Berg" meaning a mountain or hill. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent, pine-covered ridge or a forested hillside. By the year 1725, the family had established a clear presence in the region of Bavaria. During this era, families often identified themselves by the specific landscape features that surrounded their homes. As the family grew and moved across the German states, the name served as a permanent link to the geography of their ancestral lands. This naming tradition reflects a time when people were deeply connected to the local environment and the specific terrain where they built their lives.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Tanne and Berg
Fir tree and mountain or hill.
This name
DannenbergA topographical name for someone who lived near a mountain covered in fir trees.
also spelled
Danenberg
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
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
