A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fende 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 Fende 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 Fende 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 family name Fende carries a deep connection to the historic city of Augsburg, where records confirm members of the family were well-established by 1765. During the eighteenth century, Augsburg was a major center for trade, banking, and skilled craftsmanship, which likely shaped the lives and occupations of early family members. The name itself is thought to be linked to regional German dialects, potentially originating as a descriptive term for a person who lived near a specific boundary or a piece of open land. As the family navigated life in this influential city, they would have been part of a vibrant urban culture defined by the guilds and the bustling markets of the Holy Roman Empire. Over time, the Fende name became woven into the local history of the region, reflecting the steady growth and movement of families across the German-speaking territories during the late modern period.
Derived from the Middle High German word for a boundary or border.
