Map of Germany showing where the Follen arms are recorded
The Follen arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Follen 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Follen Family in Germany
The Follen family name finds its historical roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1765. The name is believed to be topographic in origin, likely derived from the Middle Low German word "fole," which referred to a foal or a young horse. In the rural landscape of eighteenth-century Westphalia, such names were often assigned to families based on their connection to the land, their occupation as horse breeders, or their proximity to specific pastures. During this period, the region was characterized by small agricultural communities where families remained closely tied to their local parishes. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Westphalian countryside, contributing to the local agrarian economy before later generations began to migrate toward larger urban centers in search of new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Volmar
Derived from the Germanic elements for people and famous.
This name
FollenA patronymic surname originating from a shortened form of names like Volmar or Folmar.
also spelled
Fullene
Fullenn
Fulen
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
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
