A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ehrenberg family of Germany.
Reg. 2733 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un demi-vol de gu., ch. d'un croiss. d'or et terminé en tête d'aigle. Cq. cour. C.: une queue de paon au nat., ch. de deux bottes éperonnées et adossées d'or. L.: d'arg. et de gu. [Le major Albert Ehrenberg, au service de Prusse, a été anobli le 25 mai 1820 au port des mêmes armes. V. Arnold Ehrenberg.]”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Ehrenberg Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Ehrenberg arms are recorded
The Ehrenberg 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 Ehrenberg 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 Ehrenberg Family in Germany
The family name Ehrenberg is a topographical surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. In German, the name translates to "mountain of honor," suggesting that the earliest ancestors likely lived near or owned a prominent hill or fortified site bearing that name. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the Franconia region of Germany. During this period, Franconia was a patchwork of small territories, and families often moved within these borders to seek work in agriculture or local crafts. The presence of the Ehrenberg name in 1765 indicates that the family had already put down deep roots in the local community, likely participating in the social and economic life of the Franconian countryside long before official census records became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ern and Berg
Honor or eagle combined with a mountain or fortified hill.
This name
EhrenbergA topographic name for someone living on a mountain associated with honor or eagles.
also spelled
Ehrenburg
Erenberg
Related arms
Ehrenburgvariant spelling
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
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.
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
