A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elmendorf family of Poland.
Reg. 7984 · Polish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'or à trois fasces de gu., la première plus longue que la deuxième et celle-ci plus longue que la troisième. C.: une sirène au nat., entre un vol aux armes de l'écu.”
CourlandCourland, c. 1772
Where the Elmendorf Arms Were Recorded
Map of Poland showing where the Elmendorf arms are recorded
The Elmendorf arms were recorded in Courland, c. 1772.
Courland was Baltic coast country held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations and served as officers abroad, and both landholding and service brought arms with them.
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.
Region
Courland
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Elmendorf Arms
Ennoblement by the Sejm
Author: Olek Remesz · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Poland in this period.
Stanisław August Poniatowski
Sovereign of the period
Stanisław August Poniatowski
1764–1795
Reigning in Poland when the Elmendorf arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Poland
Polish noble families shared a single coat of arms across many different surnames, creating large clans rather than individual designs. These symbols were held collectively by all members of the clan regardless of their specific family name. When a new family joined the nobility, they were adopted into an existing clan and began using that group's established shield.
Granting authority
The Sejm, which was the Polish parliament, held the power to grant noble status and the right to bear arms.
How they got arms
Families typically received their coat of arms through a formal act of ennoblement granted by the Sejm for distinguished service.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Crown Metrica, which served as the central archive for state documents starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Courland.
Origin & History of the Elmendorf Family in Poland
The family name Elmendorf is deeply rooted in the history of Northern Europe, with early records placing the family in the region of Courland by 1772. The name itself is of German origin and typically refers to a person who lived near a grove of elm trees. During the eighteenth century, Courland was a territory that served as a cultural bridge between Baltic, German, and Russian influences. Families living in this area often held positions of local administration or trade, which allowed them to maintain records of their lineage across generations. As the family moved and settled in different parts of the Baltic region, they adapted to the changing political landscapes while keeping their distinct name as a link to their ancestral origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elmendorf
Germanic compound of elm tree and village or farmstead.
This name
ElmendorfRefers to a person who lived near a village or farmstead characterized by elm trees.
also spelled
Ellmendorf
Elmendorf
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Arbusov, Leonid, Grundriss der Geschichte Liv-, Est- und Kurlands, 1918
Latvian State Historical Archives, Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvs, Fond 235 (Courland Nobility Records)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
