A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Finkler family of Germany.
Reg. 6145 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
harpWell-tuned governance and love of music
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 une harpe d'arg. C.: un pinson au nat.; entre deux prob., d'arg. et d'azur. - (Nob. du St.-Empire, 31 janv. 1743.) Ec.: aux”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Finkler Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Finkler arms are recorded
The Finkler arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Finkler 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 Finkler Family in Germany
The surname Finkler is rooted in the German language and historically functions as an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "fink," which means finch, and the suffix "ler," which typically denotes a person who works with or catches a specific animal. This suggests that the earliest ancestors bearing this name were likely bird catchers or traders who specialized in finches, which were popular songbirds in central Europe during the Middle Ages. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Finkler family were well-established residents of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a thriving center of trade and craftsmanship, and the family likely integrated into the city’s complex social structure as skilled artisans or merchants. As the family grew, they contributed to the urban life of the region, leaving behind a legacy tied to the industrious nature of one of Germany’s most significant historical cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fink
A small songbird known as a finch.
This name
FinklerA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near or caught finches.
also spelled
Finckeler
Finkler
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
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harpWell-tuned governance and love of music
harpWell-tuned governance and love of music
