A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Flechtner family of Germany.
Reg. 6618 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Taillé d'or sur sin.; à une sirène de carn., tenant de sa main dextre une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin., empoignant sa queue de sa main sen., et adextrée d'une étoile de sin. sur l'or. C.: deux prob., celle à dextre taillée d'or sur sin., celle à sen. tranchée de sin. sur or. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
GermanyWindsheim Bav, c. 1765
Where the Flechtner Arms Were Recorded
Windsheim
Map of Germany showing where the Flechtner arms are recorded
The Flechtner arms were recorded in Windsheim Bav, 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 Flechtner 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 Flechtner Family in Germany
The surname Flechtner is rooted in the occupational traditions of medieval Germany, likely originating from the Middle High German word *flehten*, which refers to the act of weaving or plaiting. Historically, this name was often given to individuals who worked as basket makers or straw weavers, trades that were essential for agricultural and domestic life in small towns. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a documented presence in the town of Windsheim, located in the Franconian region of Bavaria. In 1765, records confirm that members of the Flechtner family were active participants in the local community, likely contributing to the town's economy through their specialized craftsmanship. This period in Windsheim was marked by a stable guild system, which allowed families with specific trade names to maintain their livelihoods and social standing over several generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
flechten
To braid, weave, or plait together.
This name
FlechtnerAn occupational surname for a basket maker or someone who wove straw or wicker.
also spelled
Flektner
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Bad Windsheim, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Windsheim (1765)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
