A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dillen family of Germany.
Reg. 0151 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“d'or; l. d'or et de sa.; 2o un lion iss. de sa., entre deux prob. échiq. d'or et de gu.; l. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Dillen Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Dillen arms are recorded
The Dillen arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Dillen 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 Dillen Family in Germany
The family name Dillen has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name itself is often linked to regional linguistic patterns in Southern Germany, where surnames frequently evolved from personal nicknames or descriptions of a person's character and occupation. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local trades, which helped them build stable lives within their village communities. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Bavarian countryside, participating in the local traditions and economic life of the era. By tracking these early generations, we gain a clearer picture of how families like the Dillens navigated the challenges and opportunities of life in the Holy Roman Empire before the major political shifts of the nineteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dillo
A Germanic personal name derived from the Old High German word for people.
This name
DillenA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Dillo or a diminutive form of Dietrich.
also spelled
Dylen
Dilen
Dillon
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
proboscides trunksGreat strength and long memory
