A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Esterle family of Germany.
Reg. 3732 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Taillé d'or sur sa.; au lion de l'un en l'autre, soutenu d'un tertre de sin. et tenant de ses pattes un soc de charrue d'arg., posé sur son épaule. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Esterle Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Esterle arms are recorded
The Esterle 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 Esterle 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 Esterle Family in Germany
The surname Esterle is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, particularly within the region of Bavaria. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in local communities. The name likely originated as a diminutive form of names starting with "Ester," which were common in the Germanic dialects of that era. During the 1765 period, individuals with this name were often associated with agrarian life or skilled trades, reflecting the typical social structures of Bavarian villages at the time. As the family grew, they became part of the steady demographic shifts that defined the rural Bavarian countryside, contributing to the local culture through their work and community involvement. Their presence in official parish and tax records from this era serves as a testament to their long-standing integration into the fabric of southern German society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Esther
A Persian name meaning star.
This name
EsterleA German diminutive or patronymic form referring to a descendant of Esther.
also spelled
Esterle
Sterl
Esterli
Ester
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
