A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hempel family of Germany.
Reg. 7315 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à une tour de gu., mouv. de la p., ouv. et aj. d'or; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à un bélier au nat., pass. sur une terrasse d'arg., celui du 3 cont. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un bélier cont., iss., entre un vol de sa.; 2° la tour. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1803
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Map of Germany showing where the Hempel arms are recorded
The Hempel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1803.
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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Hempel 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 Hempel Family in Germany
The surname Hempel originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe as a diminutive form of the name Heinrich or Henry. During the Middle Ages, it was common for people to shorten formal names into friendly nicknames, and Hempel emerged as a popular way to refer to someone named Heinrich. By the early 19th century, the family had established a clear presence in the region of Bavaria. In 1803, Bavaria underwent significant political changes during the process of secularization, which reorganized local territories and led to more formal record-keeping for families living in the area. During this time, the Hempel family likely worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local tradespeople, which was typical for families living in the Bavarian countryside. As the family grew and moved through different towns, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestry and their deep roots in southern German history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Haimo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for home.
This name
HempelA diminutive form indicating a person from the home or a small homestead.
also spelled
Hemple
Hempell
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ramLeadership and authority
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
ramLeadership and authority
