A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Engelhart family of Germany.
Reg. 6855 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
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 ange iss., hab. d'arg. au baudrier de gu., les ailes d'or, brandissant au-dessus de sa tête une épée flamboyante au nat. C.: l'ange iss. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
GermanyNördlingen Bav, c. 1765
Where the Engelhart Arms Were Recorded
Nördlingen
Map of Germany showing where the Engelhart arms are recorded
The Engelhart arms were recorded in Nördlingen Bav, c. 1765.
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 Engelhart 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 Engelhart Family in Germany
The surname Engelhart originates from the Germanic personal name Engelhard, which combines the elements "angel" and "hard," meaning brave or strong. During the Middle Ages, names like this were often given to children to reflect the virtues parents hoped they would possess. By the time the family was firmly established in the Bavarian town of Nördlingen in 1765, the name had transitioned from a personal identifier to a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Nördlingen was a significant center for trade and craftsmanship during this era, and families living there were often involved in the local guilds or merchant networks that defined the town's economy. The presence of the Engelhart family in this region suggests they were part of the stable middle class that helped maintain the social and professional life of the city during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Angil-hard
Derived from the Germanic elements for angel or hook and hardy.
This name
EngelhartA name signifying a person who is as brave or strong as an angel.
also spelled
Engelhard
Engelhardt
Related arms
Engelhardvariant spelling
Engelhardtvariant spelling
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nördlingen, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Nördlingen, 1765
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cherubDivine protection over the innocent
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
