A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feind family of Germany.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. à une sirène de carn., à deux queues d'or qu'elle tient de ses mains, hab. et cour. d'or. C.: la sirène.”
The Feind arms were recorded in Augsbourg, 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.
Reigning in Germany when the Feind arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Feind originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive nickname. In the German language, the word *Feind* translates to enemy or adversary. During the Middle Ages, such names were often given to individuals who were known for their fierce temperament, their skill in local conflicts, or perhaps their role as a stern enforcer of community laws. By the time members of the family were documented in Augsburg in 1765, the name had long transitioned from a personal descriptor to a permanent hereditary surname. During the eighteenth century, Augsburg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, suggesting that the family likely participated in the city’s vibrant guild system or its growing mercantile economy. As the family established their roots in this urban environment, they became part of the complex social fabric of a city famous for its banking history and its influence on the Holy Roman Empire.
Middle High German term for an enemy or adversary.
