A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erlinger family of Germany.
Reg. 1177 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Parti: au 1 de sa. au lion cont. d'or, cour. du même; au 2 de gu. à un chevalier, arm. de toutes pièces d'arg., tenant une épée du même. Cq. cour. C.: le chevalier, iss.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Erlinger Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Erlinger arms are recorded
The Erlinger arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Erlinger 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 Erlinger Family in Germany
The surname Erlinger is a topographical name that originated in the southern regions of Germany, specifically within the state of Bavaria. It is derived from the Middle High German word "erle," which refers to an alder tree, combined with a suffix indicating a person who lived near such a landmark. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in Bavarian rural communities. Records from 1765 confirm that the Erlinger name was common among farmers and craftsmen who lived in the foothills of the Alps. These early ancestors likely settled in fertile river valleys where alder trees naturally thrive. Over time, the name became a way to identify individuals based on their specific home location, helping to distinguish them from other families in the same village.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erling
Derived from the Old High German name Erlo, meaning noble or warrior.
This name
ErlingerA habitational name for someone originating from a place called Erling or Erlingen.
also spelled
Erlinger
Eggenstein
Erlinger-Eggenstein
Erlinger Degensteen
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
