A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hartenstein family of Germany.
Reg. 8925 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 gu. à un bélier arrêté d'arg., la tête retournée. Cq. cour. C. deux prob., de gu. et d'arg., ch. chacune d'une fasce de l'un à l'autre.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Hartenstein Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Hartenstein arms are recorded
The Hartenstein arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Hartenstein 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Hartenstein Family in Germany
The surname Hartenstein originates from the German language and is a topographic name, meaning it was likely given to people who lived near a prominent rock formation or a fortified stone castle. The name combines the words "hart," meaning hard or strong, and "stein," meaning stone. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the region of Silesia. Historical records from 1765 confirm that members of the Hartenstein family were living and working within this territory, which was then part of the Prussian Kingdom. During this era, families in Silesia were often tied to the land through farming or local trades, and the name Hartenstein served as a way to distinguish their household within the growing provincial population. As the family moved and expanded throughout the region, the name remained a consistent identifier of their ancestral roots in the rocky landscapes of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hart and Stein
Hard or strong and a stone or rock.
This name
HartensteinA topographic name for someone living near a prominent or hard stone formation.
also spelled
Borwitzhartenstein
Borwitz
Hartenstein
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
State Archives in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
ramLeadership and authority
