A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finkel family of Germany.
Reg. 0829 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un cygne d'arg., le vol levé, posé sur un tertre de sin.; à la fasce d'or, br. sur le tout et ch. de trois étoiles d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: le cygne, ch. sur sa poitrine de trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'azur; entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'azur et d'or, et ornées chacune dans son embouchure de trois plumes de paon au nat. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Finkel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Finkel arms are recorded
The Finkel 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 Finkel 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 Finkel Family in Germany
The surname Finkel is rooted in the German language and historically functions as a descriptive name. It originates from the Middle High German word *vinkel*, which refers to a finch, a type of small songbird. During the eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Bavaria. In 1765, records show that members of the Finkel family lived within this southern German territory, likely working in trades or agriculture common to the area at that time. Because surnames were often adopted to reflect a person’s personality, physical traits, or occupation, the name likely served as a nickname for a lively individual or perhaps a person who lived near a location frequented by these birds. As the family grew, they remained part of the social fabric of the Bavarian landscape, contributing to the local communities through their daily work and regional traditions.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Finke
A German word meaning finch, a type of small songbird.
This name
FinkelA diminutive form referring to someone who resembles a finch or lived near a place frequented by them.
also spelled
Finckel
Fynkel
Related arms
Schultersimilar arms
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
