A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Edling family of Germany.
Reg. 1789 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
batonAuthority and office held under the crown
legStrength and swiftness
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 tranché d'or sur sa.; à un croc, terminé en trèfle et posé en barre, de l'un en l'autre; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à la bande de gu., accostée en chef d'un membre d'aigle de sa. et en p. d'un demi-vol cont. du même. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion iss. et cont. d'or, cour. du même; 2° un demi-vol de sa. L.: d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Edling Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Edling arms are recorded
The Edling 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 Edling 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 Edling Family in Germany
The family name Edling originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep roots tied to the landscape of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the Edling family were established residents within this southern German territory. The name itself is likely topographic in nature, which means it was originally used to describe people who lived near a specific location or a settlement known as an "Edel" or a noble clearing. During the 1765 period, families like the Edlings were often part of the agrarian or artisan classes that formed the backbone of Bavarian society. They lived through a time of significant cultural change as the region transitioned under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire. These early ancestors helped shape the local community through their daily work and their commitment to their ancestral lands, leaving behind a legacy that has persisted for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adal
Old High German term meaning noble or of noble descent.
This name
EdlingDerived from a patronymic indicating a descendant of a person with a noble name.
also spelled
Edlin
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87