A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ellert family of Germany.
Reg. 6980 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un pélican avec ses petits d'arg.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Ellert Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Ellert arms are recorded
The Ellert 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 Ellert 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 Ellert Family in Germany
The family name Ellert has deep roots in the southern German region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1765. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Adalhard, which combines the words for noble and brave. During the eighteenth century, families with this name were often part of the rural working class, living in small agricultural villages near the Bavarian Alps. Life for the Ellert family at this time centered on the seasonal rhythms of farming and the local traditions of their parish. As the region experienced changes in trade and land ownership, the family name became a permanent marker of their heritage in the local community. By tracing their presence back to the mid-eighteenth century, we see a lineage defined by stability and a strong connection to the Bavarian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalhard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning noble and hardy or brave.
This name
EllertA patronymic form representing a noble and courageous person.
also spelled
Ellertt
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Pfarrbücher der Erzdiözese München und Freising
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
