A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Heilbronner family of Germany.
Reg. 3590 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 poisson d'arg., posé en bande, acc. de deux étoiles d'or. C.: le poisson, en pal, entre un vol de gu., chaque aile ch. d'une étoile d'or. L. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyNördlingen Bav, c. 1765
Where the Heilbronner Arms Were Recorded
Nördlingen
Map of Germany showing where the Heilbronner arms are recorded
The Heilbronner arms were recorded in Nördlingen Bav, c. 1765.
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 Heilbronner 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 Heilbronner Family in Germany
The family name Heilbronner is a classic example of a topographic surname, which means it was originally used to identify someone based on where they lived. The name translates to "one who comes from Heilbronn," a historic city located in the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family had migrated away from their ancestral namesake and established a presence in the Bavarian town of Nördlingen. Records confirm that the family was well-integrated into the local community by 1765, likely participating in the vibrant trade and craft networks that defined life in that region during the late Holy Roman Empire. As the family settled into Nördlingen, they maintained the name as a way to preserve their geographic origins while building new lives in a different part of the German lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Heilbronn
A city in Germany derived from holy spring or healing well.
This name
HeilbronnerAn inhabitant or person originating from the city of Heilbronn.
also spelled
Heilbroner
Hailbroner
Related arms
Meyfisch de Kranichsburgsimilar arms
Vuilleretsimilar arms
Hailbronnervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Nördlingen, Bürgeraufnahme- und Ratsprotokolle
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
