A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hansel family of Germany.
Reg. 2589 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
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 la bande de sa., côtoyée de deux gerbes d'or et ch. d'un lion léopardé du même, tenant une hache d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un homme d'armes iss., arm. d'arg., tenant une hache d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1579
Where the Hansel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Hansel arms are recorded
The Hansel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1579.
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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Hansel 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Hansel Family in Germany
The surname Hansel originated as a diminutive form of the name Johannes, which is the German version of John. During the Middle Ages, it was common for people to add suffixes to names to show affection or to distinguish between different people with the same name. By the late sixteenth century, the Hansel family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. Historical records confirm their presence there as early as 1579, indicating that they were likely part of the local farming or artisan classes that defined the social structure of the Holy Roman Empire. As the family grew, members moved throughout the German-speaking lands, carrying the name across various villages and towns. This name reflects a deep connection to the cultural and linguistic traditions of southern Germany, where it evolved from a simple nickname into a formal family identifier.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Johannes
God is gracious
This name
HanselA diminutive form of the name John, signifying a gift from God.
also spelled
Hanschel
Hanshl
Hansel
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
