A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Felten family of Germany.
Reg. 3126 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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: au 1 d'arg. à une tête et col d'aigle de sa., bq. et cour. d'or, mouv. du coupé; au 2 d'azur à un senestrochère, paré de gu., la main de carn. tenant un sabre d'arg., garni d'or, en barre. A la fasce d'or, br. sur le coupé. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile d'or, entre un vol de sa. L. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1786
Where the Felten Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Felten arms are recorded
The Felten arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1786.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Felten 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 Felten Family in Germany
The surname Felten is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a shortened version of the name Valentin. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the Bavarian region of Germany. Historical records confirm that members of the Felten family were living in Bavaria by 1786, where they were likely integrated into the local agricultural or trade communities common to that era. During this period, families in southern Germany often lived in small, tightly knit villages where surnames were used to distinguish between different households in the same parish. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Bavarian countryside, contributing to the local economy and regional traditions that defined life in the Holy Roman Empire before the major political shifts of the 19th century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Valerius
Latin origin meaning to be strong, healthy, or powerful.
This name
FeltenA patronymic surname derived from a shortened form of the name Valentine, signifying strength or health.
also spelled
Velte
Velth
Felten
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
