A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eberlein family of Germany.
Reg. 6524 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
Colours
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'azur à une colombe volante au-dessus d'une mer, tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier, le tout au nat.; la colombe volante en barre, la tête en bas. C.: une colombe d'arg., tenant en son bec une bague d'or. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Eberlein Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Eberlein arms are recorded
The Eberlein arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of arms.
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 Eberlein 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Eberlein Family in Germany
The surname Eberlein originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, specifically emerging as a diminutive form of the name Eberhard. In the Middle Ages, it was common for families to adopt names based on personal characteristics or animal symbolism, and the root word eber refers to a wild boar, which was often associated with strength and bravery. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a firm presence in the Franconia region of Bavaria. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Eberlein family were well-integrated into the local social and economic fabric of this area. During this period, Franconia was a patchwork of small territories, and families like the Eberleins were typically involved in agriculture, local trade, or skilled craftsmanship. Their presence in the region reflects the broader patterns of German migration and settlement where families often remained in the same rural districts for generations to maintain their livelihoods and community ties.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eber
A wild boar, often used as a symbol of strength or courage.
This name
EberleinA diminutive form referring to a little or young wild boar.
also spelled
Eberline
Eberleinn
Eberleinh
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Standesamtliche Unterlagen und Kirchenbücher der Region Franken, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
