A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flad family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2057 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à deux demi-roues adossées d'arg., acc. en chef d'une fleur-de-lis du même. Cq. cour. C.: une fleur-de-lis d'arg.; entre un vol de gu., l'aile dextre ch. de la moitié sen. et l'aile sen. de la moitié dextre d'une roue d'arg.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Flad Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Flad arms are recorded
The Flad 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 Flad 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 Flad Family in Germany
The surname Flad originates from the southern regions of Germany, specifically within the historical landscape of Bavaria. During the eighteenth century, the name was closely tied to the rural communities and agricultural traditions of this area. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in Bavarian villages, where they often worked as skilled tradespeople or landowners. The name itself is thought to be rooted in Old High German, potentially describing a person who lived near a flat or level piece of land. As these families grew, they became deeply integrated into the local parish systems, which served as the primary way for the government and the church to track births, marriages, and deaths. Over time, the Flad family helped shape the social and economic life of their communities by participating in the local craft guilds and regional agricultural markets that defined life in southern Germany during the late Enlightenment period.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à trois pals de gu.; au canton sen. de sa., ch. d'une étoile du champ; au 2 de sa. à la bande ondée d'arg. Sur le tout de gu. à deux feuilles de nénuphar de sin. mouv. d'une seule tige, passée dans un anneau d'or. C.: 1° un écusson aux armes du 1, entre un vol coupé de gu. sur or; 2° un homme iss., hab. de gu., tenant de chaque main une feuille de nénuphar de sin.; 3° un écusson aux armes du 2, entre deux prob. coupées de sa. sur arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1663
Where the Flad Arms Were Recorded
Map of France showing where the Flad arms are recorded
The Flad arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1663.
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 France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Germany when the Flad arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Flad Family in France
The surname Flad traces its roots to the Germanic regions of Central Europe, with documented presence in Bavaria as early as 1663. While the name is firmly rooted in German history, its influence eventually crossed borders into France, particularly in the border regions of Alsace and Lorraine. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the movement of people across these shifting political boundaries was common due to trade, military service, and religious migration. Families bearing the name Flad likely moved into French territories as part of this regional integration, adapting to the local culture while maintaining their ancestral identity. This transition reflects the broader history of families who navigated the complex social landscape of the Holy Roman Empire and the expanding French kingdom, eventually establishing a presence that spanned both sides of the Rhine.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fladen
A flat cake or a flat piece of land.
This name
FladA topographic name for someone living on flat terrain or a nickname for a baker.
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
leafHappiness and abundance
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
