A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fehling family of Germany.
Reg. 9345 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé d'arg. sur gu.; à trois roses de l'un à l'autre. Cq. cour. C.: un buste d'homme, hab. d'un parti d'arg. et de gu., bout. d'or, coiffé d'un bonnet pointu parti d'arg. et de gu., retr. de l'un en l'autre, houppé d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Fehling Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Fehling arms are recorded
The Fehling 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 Fehling 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 Fehling Family in Germany
The surname Fehling is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with records confirming the presence of the family in Bavaria as early as 1765. The name is considered a patronymic or descriptive surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "vehe," which relates to the color or pattern of an animal's coat, or perhaps a variation of a given name. During the mid-eighteenth century, families in the Bavarian region were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized local trades. As the family established their roots in this area, they became part of the social fabric of rural villages where record-keeping by local parishes began to document their births, marriages, and deaths. This transition into formal documentation allows us to trace the Fehling lineage back to a time when regional identity was defined by one’s village and occupation within the Bavarian territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Felo
Old Germanic term referring to a fierce or wild person.
This name
FehlingA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone characterized by a fierce or wild nature.
also spelled
Fehling
Fehlyn
Fehli
Fayleen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
