A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Derflinger family of Germany.
Reg. 9526 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 sa. à deux bâtons de maréchal d'azur, emboutés d'or, passés en saut.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une main d'aigle de sa.; l'or chapé-ployé d'azur, à deux têtes de léopard d'or. Sur le tout d'arg. à une aigle de Brandebourg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º l'aigle; l. d'or et de sa.; 2º un bras, arm. au nat., la main gantelée d'arg. empoignant un bâton de maréchal de l'écu; l. d'or et d'azur. T.: à dextre un guerrier romain, à sen. une Minerva.”
Germanyc. 1671
Where the Derflinger Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Derflinger arms are recorded
The Derflinger arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1671.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Derflinger 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 Derflinger Family in Germany
The family name Derflinger originates from the southern regions of Germany, specifically within the historical landscape of Bavaria. The name is topographical in nature, meaning it was likely derived from the word "Dorf," which translates to village, combined with a suffix indicating a person who lived in or near a specific settlement. By the year 1671, records confirm that members of the Derflinger family were well-established residents in the Bavarian countryside. During this era, families were often identified by their proximity to local landmarks or their roles within the rural community. As the family grew, they became deeply integrated into the agricultural and social structures of the region, maintaining a presence that spanned generations. This connection to the land reflects the broader patterns of migration and settlement that defined life in seventeenth-century Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dorf
A small village or settlement in a rural area.
This name
DerflingerRefers to a person who originated from a village or lived near a small settlement.
also spelled
Derfling
Derflinker
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
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
handFaith, sincerity and justice
lionCourage, strength and royalty
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
