A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dernbach family of Germany.
Reg. 8071 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à trois coeurs de sa., appointés en pairle. C.: 1° une tête et col de cygne cont. d'arg., entre deux pennons d'or, ch. chacun d'une fleur-de-lis d'arg.; 2° un bonnet de sa., retr. d'arg., accosté de deux queues de paon au nat. L. d'or et de sa.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1765
Where the Dernbach Arms Were Recorded
Wurttemberg
Map of Germany showing where the Dernbach arms are recorded
The Dernbach arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1765.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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 Dernbach 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 Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Dernbach Family in Germany
The family name Dernbach originates from a geographic location in Germany. It is a topographic surname, which means it was likely adopted by people who lived near a specific stream or valley known as the Dernbach. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the region of Württemberg. During this era, families in southwestern Germany were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local trades. As the population grew, individuals moved between neighboring villages to find work or start their own households. This movement helped the name spread throughout the rural communities of the region, where families maintained detailed church records to track births, marriages, and deaths. These early ancestors were part of a stable social structure that relied on community cooperation and local governance to survive the challenges of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dern + Bach
Dern refers to a thorny thicket and Bach means a stream.
This name
DernbachA topographic name for someone living near a stream bordered by thorny bushes.
also spelled
Dernbak
Dernback
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon. 1967
Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart. Bestand A 202: Württembergische Regierungsakten. 1765
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
