A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eller family of Germany.
Reg. 8212 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Gironné d'azur et d'or de douze pièces; à un écusson de gu. en abime. C.: un écusson aux armes de l'écu, entre un vol de gu.; ou (Arm. v. G.) un buste d'homme, posé de profil, hab. d'or, au rabat d'arg., coiffé d'un bonnet pointu de sa., retr. de gu. - Ou: Gironné de gu. et d'or; à un écusson d'or en abime. C.: un vol, de gu. et d'or. D.: GLORIA VIRTUTIS UMBRA.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Eller Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Eller arms are recorded
The Eller arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Eller 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Eller Family in Germany
The surname Eller is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Westphalia, a region in northwestern Germany known for its dense forests and fertile river valleys. Linguistic experts believe the name originated as a topographic descriptor, likely referring to families who lived near groves of alder trees, which are known as *Ellern* in the local dialect. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established members of the Westphalian community, often working as skilled farmers or craftsmen who maintained strong ties to their local parishes. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant social change in the Holy Roman Empire, where their identity was closely tied to the specific village or manor where they resided. Over generations, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage, reflecting a long history of resilience and connection to the German landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elre
Old High German word for the alder tree.
This name
EllerA topographic name for someone who lived near a grove of alder trees.
also spelled
Ellerr
Related arms
Savignysimilar arms
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, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der westfälischen Gemeinden, 1765
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