A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Forell family of Germany.
Reg. 8241 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à un bouquetin ramp. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: une tête et col de cygne d'arg., tenant en son bec un annelet d'or.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Forell Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Forell arms are recorded
The Forell 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 Forell 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 Forell Family in Germany
The surname Forell is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with records confirming the family’s presence in the Bavarian region by 1765. The name is likely derived from the Middle High German word for trout, suggesting that early ancestors may have lived near productive fishing waters or earned their living as fishermen and fishmongers. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a collection of rural territories where families were often identified by their proximity to local landmarks or their specific trade. As the Forell family settled into these communities, they became part of the agricultural and artisanal fabric of the region. Over time, the name evolved from a descriptive nickname into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations as the family expanded across the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Forelle
A freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family.
This name
ForellA topographic or occupational name referring to someone who lived near a trout stream or a fisherman.
also spelled
Forel
Forelle
Related arms
Forelvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
