A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Esler family of Germany.
Reg. 6538 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un âne au nat., pass. sur une planche de gu., posée en fasce. C.: une tête et col d'âne au nat., mouv. d'un bonnet aplati de gu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Esler Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Esler arms are recorded
The Esler arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Esler 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 Esler Family in Germany
The family name Esler is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with documented records confirming their presence in the city of Nuremberg by 1765. The name is considered a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word *esel*, which translates to donkey. In the context of medieval naming conventions, this often identified an individual who worked as a carrier or a driver of pack animals, a vital trade in the bustling merchant hubs of the Holy Roman Empire. As families moved from rural areas into growing urban centers like Nuremberg during the eighteenth century, they often carried these descriptive names as a formal identifier. By the mid-1700s, the Eslers were established members of the local community, participating in the civic and economic life of a city renowned for its craftsmanship and trade guilds.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Esel
A German word meaning donkey or ass.
This name
EslerAn occupational or descriptive name for a person who worked with or resembled a donkey.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg (1765)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
horseReadiness to serve king and country
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
horseReadiness to serve king and country
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
