A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Felde family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 8227 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. à un chicot d'or, posé en bande, poussant de chaque côté trois feuilles du même. C.: deux chicots d'or, posés en chev. renv., feuillés chacun à l'ext. de trois feuilles du même.”
GermanyPrusse occidentale, c. 1765
Where the Felde Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Felde arms are recorded
The Felde arms were recorded in Prusse occidentale, 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 Felde 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 Felde Family in Germany
The surname Felde is a topographic name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. It comes from the Middle High German word "velt," which refers to an open field or a stretch of flat, cleared land. Families who took this name were likely identified by their neighbors because they lived near or worked on a specific field or pasture. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that members of the Felde family were established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, life in rural Bavaria was deeply connected to the land, and families were often tied to the specific village or farmstead where they resided. As the population grew, the name helped distinguish these individuals from others in the community, reflecting a long history of agricultural life and local identity within the German landscape.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a fesse or, betw. three eagles displ. ar. gutteé de sang”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Felde Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Felde arms are recorded
The Felde arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Germany when the Felde arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Felde Family in England
The name Felde is rooted in the Old English word feld, which referred to an open field or a stretch of cleared land. In the early seventeenth century, the name began to appear in historical records centered around the city of York. By 1620, families bearing this name were well-established in the region, likely working as farmers or tradespeople who lived on the outskirts of the city. Because the name describes a specific type of landscape, it was often used as a topographic identifier to distinguish people who lived near open pastures or meadows. As these families grew, they became part of the local social fabric of Northern England, contributing to the agricultural and economic life of the York area during a time of significant transition in English history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Feld
A flat, open area of land or field.
This name
FeldeA topographic name for someone who lived near or worked on a field.
also spelled
Feldee
Felden
Feldy
Field
Fielde
Related arms
Feldvariant spelling
Fieldvariant 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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv. Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen. 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
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
dropletsTears, and grief borne with patience
