A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drexel family of Germany.
Reg. 0503 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“D'or à deux fasces abaissées de gu., au lion naiss. d'arg., mouv. de la fasce supérieure. C.: le lion iss., entre un vol d'or, chaque aile ch. de deux fasces de gu. L. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Drexel Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Drexel arms are recorded
The Drexel arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Drexel 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 Drexel Family in Germany
The surname Drexel is rooted in the occupational history of southern Germany, specifically originating as a descriptive term for a person who worked with a lathe. The name is a variation of the Middle High German word *drechsler*, which identifies a skilled woodturner or craftsman who shaped wooden objects on a rotating machine. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the bustling trade city of Nuremberg. In 1765, Nuremberg served as a major European center for manufacturing and artistic production, providing a perfect environment for families with specialized trade skills to thrive. Members of the Drexel family during this era were likely integrated into the city’s complex guild system, which organized labor and maintained high standards for professional artisans. This connection to the craft of turning wood suggests that the early ancestors of the family were respected members of the urban middle class who helped define the industrial identity of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drechsler
An occupational term for a wood turner or lathe operator.
This name
DrexelA surname derived from the Middle High German word for a craftsman who shapes wood.
also spelled
Drechsel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg. Handwerksrollen und Zunftakten der Stadt Nürnberg. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
lionCourage, strength and royalty
