A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Forbach family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1695 · French, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. au saut. d'herm. C.: un bassinet d'arg., sommé d'une boule d'or ornée de plumes de coq de sa. L.: à l'int. d'arg., à l'ext. de gu. au saut. d'herm.”
LorraineLorraine, c. 1663
Where the Forbach Arms Were Recorded
Lorraine
Map of France showing where the Forbach arms are recorded
The Forbach arms were recorded in Lorraine, c. 1663.
Lorraine sat on the border between France and the German lands, and border country bred soldiers. Families here held small estates and served in arms, and a fighting man was exactly the sort who carried a shield of his own.
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 France when the Forbach 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 Lorraine.
Origin & History of the Forbach Family in France
The family name Forbach originates from the town of the same name located in the Moselle department of the Lorraine region in northeastern France. By 1663, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, which was a strategic crossroads between French and Germanic territories. During the seventeenth century, the region experienced significant political shifts as it transitioned under the influence of the French crown. Families living in Lorraine at this time often navigated a complex cultural landscape where local traditions blended with the administrative changes brought by the expansion of the kingdom. The name likely functioned as a locative surname, identifying individuals based on their place of origin or residence near the town. As these early ancestors lived through the turbulent decades of the seventeenth century, they became part of the enduring history of the borderlands, where the movement of people and the evolution of local identities were shaped by the constant interaction between neighboring nations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un ours ramp. de sa., bouclé d'or, tenant sur son épaule une pique du même. Brl. d'azur et d'arg. C.: l'ours, iss. L. de gu. et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Forbach Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Forbach arms are recorded
The Forbach 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 France when the Forbach 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 Forbach Family in Germany
The family name Forbach is a locative surname, meaning it was originally derived from the geography of the region where the family resided. The name is linked to the town of Forbach, which sits near the border of Germany and France. During the eighteenth century, the name became firmly established within the cultural landscape of Bavaria. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were active participants in the social and economic life of this German state. At that time, families often moved between small villages and growing towns to find work in agriculture or local trades. The Forbach name traveled with these individuals as they built their lives in the Bavarian countryside. This history reflects a period when surnames became a permanent way to identify family lines across the German territories.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Furt-bach
A stream or brook located near a ford or crossing point.
This name
ForbachRefers to a person who lived near a stream that could be crossed by foot or vehicle.
also spelled
Vorbach
Forbahk
Forback
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bouteiller, Ernest de. Dictionnaire topographique de l'ancien département de la Moselle. 1874
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
buckleFidelity, and a bond firmly held
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
