A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elster family of Germany.
Reg. 3409 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une pie d'arg., tenant en son bec un poisson au nat. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Elster Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Elster arms are recorded
The Elster arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Elster 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Elster Family in Germany
The surname Elster is rooted in the German language and is derived from the word for the magpie, a bird known for its intelligence and distinct black and white plumage. In the region of Saxony, where the family was documented as early as 1765, names often originated from descriptive nicknames or local landmarks. It is likely that the first people to carry this name either lived near a river named the Elster or were associated with the characteristics of the bird itself. During the eighteenth century, the Elster family lived in a landscape defined by shifting borders and agricultural traditions. As they settled in Saxony, they became part of a society that valued trade and craftsmanship, helping to establish the name within the local community records of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alastor
Derived from the Proto-Germanic word for a magpie or scavenger bird.
This name
ElsterA topographic or habitational name referring to someone who lived near a place frequented by magpies.
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
