A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Esslinger family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8972 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles (8) du même.”
GermanyRothenburg Bav, c. 1765
Where the Esslinger Arms Were Recorded
Rothenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Esslinger arms are recorded
The Esslinger arms were recorded in Rothenburg 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 Esslinger 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 Esslinger Family in Germany
The surname Esslinger is a locative name, meaning it was originally used to identify people who came from the town of Esslingen am Neckar in the southwestern region of Germany. During the Middle Ages, as people began to move away from their birthplaces to seek new opportunities in other cities, they were often identified by their home town to distinguish them from local residents. By the time members of the family were documented living in the historic city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1765, the name had already been established for several generations as a way to track ancestral roots. Families in this region were often involved in the skilled trades or local governance, which allowed them to become permanent fixtures in the community life of the Holy Roman Empire. The migration of the Esslinger family from the Neckar valley toward the Franconian region reflects the broader patterns of movement that shaped German society during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Taillé: au 1 d'or à une branche de tilleul au nat., tort. en forme de S couché (s), feuillée de trois pièces de sin., 1 à sen. et 2 à dextre; au 2 bandé d'azur et d'arg. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'or, tort. d'azur et d'arg.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
Where the Esslinger Arms Were Recorded
Bern
Map of Switzerland showing where the Esslinger arms are recorded
The Esslinger arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Esslinger Family in Switzerland
The family name Esslinger traces its roots to the Germanic regions, with the name itself functioning as a topographic identifier for someone who originated from the city of Esslingen am Neckar. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the Swiss city of Bern, as evidenced by records from 1745. During this era, Bern was a center of political and economic influence, and families like the Esslingers often integrated into the local urban structure through trade or civic service. As they settled into the Swiss landscape, they became part of the complex social fabric of the Old Swiss Confederacy. Their transition from their ancestral German origins into the Swiss cantons reflects the broader patterns of migration and professional movement that defined Central Europe during the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Esslingen
A settlement or place associated with a person named Essilo.
This name
EsslingerRefers to a person who originated from the town of Esslingen in Germany.
also spelled
Eslinger
Related arms
Eslingervariant 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
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Rothenburg ob der Tauber, 1765
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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
branchPeace, and new growth
