A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Degenaars family of Germany.
Reg. 0480 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or au senestrochère, paré d'azur, mouv. du flanc, la main de carn. tenant un poignard, dirigé vers la p. de l'écu. C.: le senestrochère, posé en pal, tenant le poignard en fasce, la pointe à dextre. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyFrancfort, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Degenaars arms are recorded
The Degenaars arms were recorded in Francfort, c. 1765.
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 Degenaars 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 Degenaars Family in Germany
The family name Degenaars traces its roots to the mid-eighteenth century, with documented evidence placing early members in the city of Frankfurt in 1765. During this period, Frankfurt served as a major center for trade and migration within the Holy Roman Empire, attracting individuals who were often skilled craftsmen or merchants. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common in the German-speaking territories of that era. As families moved through these bustling urban centers, they often adapted their surnames to fit local dialects or administrative recording styles. By establishing themselves in a significant city like Frankfurt, the early Degenaars were part of a wider movement of people seeking new opportunities in the heart of Europe. Their presence in these historical records provides a clear starting point for tracing the family lineage as it began to spread across the continent.
Degenaars Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Degen
A Germanic word meaning sword or warrior.
This name
DegenaarsRefers to a descendant or someone associated with a sword-bearer or warrior.
also spelled
Degenhard
Degenharte
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Frankfurt am Main, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Frankfurt am Main, 1765
Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt, Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Frankfurt, 1765
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