A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eberline family of Germany.
Reg. 8782 · 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 Eberline Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Eberline arms are recorded
The Eberline 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 Eberline 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 Eberline Family in Germany
The surname Eberline originates from the Germanic regions of Central Europe, specifically evolving from the ancient given name Eberhard. This name combines the Germanic words for wild boar and brave, which suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely associated with strength or hunting prowess. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was firmly established in the Franconia region of Germany. Records from 1765 confirm that family members were active participants in the local community during this era, likely working as skilled tradespeople or farmers in the rural landscape. As the family grew, the name transitioned from a descriptive personal identifier into a permanent hereditary surname that was passed down through generations. This transition reflects the broader social changes in Europe where fixed family names became necessary for tracking property, taxation, and legal identity within the growing population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eberhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for wild boar and brave or hardy.
This name
EberlineA diminutive form indicating a descendant of one who is strong as a 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. Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei (Parish Registers), 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
