A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Engelhard family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 0847 · Dutch, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur à un ange d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un cerf pass. au nat.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Engelhard Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Engelhard arms are recorded
The Engelhard arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Engelhard Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Engelhard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Engelhard Family in Netherlands
The name Engelhard carries deep roots in Germanic naming traditions, combining the ancient words for angel and hard or brave. While the name appears across various regions, its presence in the Netherlands became well-documented during the early nineteenth century. By 1815, families bearing this name were established in the northern province of Friesland. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes following the Napoleonic era, which required citizens to formally register their surnames for official records. Families in Friesland often lived in close-knit agricultural communities where they contributed to the local economy and social structure. As these families settled into their provinces, the name Engelhard became a permanent part of the regional history, reflecting the movement of people across borders and the standardization of family identities in Dutch society.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
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 trois trèfles d'arg., mouv. d'un tertre du même.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Engelhard Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Engelhard arms are recorded
The Engelhard arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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 Netherlands when the Engelhard 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Engelhard Family in Germany
The name Engelhard originates from the Old High German language and combines the words for angel and hard or brave. This suggests that the name was likely given to an ancestor who was considered both noble in spirit and strong in character. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well established in the Swabia region of southwestern Germany. During this period, Swabia was a patchwork of small territories and independent cities, and families like the Engelhards were often deeply connected to the local agricultural or craft-based economy. Life in Swabia during the 1760s was defined by the rhythms of village life and the influence of local rulers, providing a stable environment for the family to grow. As the name spread through these communities, it became a marker of the family’s long-standing presence in the cultural and social landscape of the German lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ingelhard
Derived from the Germanic tribe name Ing and the word hard meaning brave.
This name
EngelhardA name signifying a person who is brave or hardy through the grace of Ing.
also spelled
Engelhart
Engelhardt
Related arms
Engelhartvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Tresoar (Fries Historisch en Letterkundig Centrum), Burgerlijke Stand van Friesland
Nederlands Instituut voor Genealogie, Nederlandse Familienamenbank
Meertens Instituut, Nederlandse Voornamenbank
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
