A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eschweiler family of Germany.
Reg. 3344 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à la fasce de sa., acc. en chef à dextre d'une tête de More du même. C.: un buste de More de profil, hab. d'arg., portant sur la tête deux pennons adossés d'arg.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Eschweiler Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Eschweiler arms are recorded
The Eschweiler arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Germany when the Eschweiler 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Eschweiler Family in Germany
The surname Eschweiler is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. It is derived from the town of Eschweiler, which is located in the Rhineland region of Germany. The name itself combines the Old High German word "esche," meaning ash tree, with the suffix "weiler," which refers to a small settlement or a hamlet. By the middle of the 18th century, members of the family had migrated eastward into the Westphalia region. Records from 1765 confirm that the family was well-established in this area, likely working in agriculture or local trades common to the rural landscape of the time. As the family settled in Westphalia, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the development of their new communities while maintaining the name that linked them to their ancestral roots in the west.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Asca-wilari
A settlement or farmstead located near an ash tree grove.
This name
EschweilerRefers to a person originating from the town of Eschweiler in the Rhineland region.
also spelled
Eschwiller
Eschweiller
Eschweler
Eshwiler
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher und Personenstandsregister der westfälischen Provinzen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
savages head affrontyAn enemy overcome
