A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Engelman family of Germany.
Reg. 6620 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'azur à la fasce d'or, acc. de deux étoiles du même, 1 en chef et 1 en p.; au 2 de .... à un chevalier, tenant une épée, le tout au nat.”
GermanyKönigsberg, c. 1810
Where the Engelman Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Engelman arms are recorded
The Engelman arms were recorded in Königsberg, c. 1810.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Engelman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Engelman Family in Germany
The surname Engelman is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it likely functioned as a descriptive name or a nickname. The name is derived from the Old High German word *engil*, meaning angel, combined with the suffix *man*, which simply means man. In the context of early Bavarian history, this name was often given to someone who possessed a gentle or angelic disposition, or perhaps to an individual who played the role of an angel in local religious mystery plays. By the early 19th century, the Engelman family was well-established within the Bavarian region, a time when the area was undergoing significant political shifts as it transitioned into the Kingdom of Bavaria. During this era, family members were likely engaged in traditional trades or agricultural work, living in small village communities where surnames were becoming increasingly formalized for tax and military registration purposes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Angil
An ancient Germanic tribal name referring to the Angles.
This name
EngelmanA habitational name for someone originating from the region of the Angles.
also spelled
Engelman
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
knightChivalry and service in arms
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
knightChivalry and service in arms
