A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hertlein family of Germany.
Reg. 1650 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
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 deux bras, arm. d'arg., lisérés d'or, accostés, les mains de carn. en bas, tenant ensemble un bâton de sa. en fasce; le tout acc. d'une étoile d'or entre les bras. Cq. cour. C.: les bras, les mains en haut, tenant le bâton. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1872
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Map of Germany showing where the Hertlein arms are recorded
The Hertlein arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1872.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Hertlein arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Hertlein Family in Germany
The surname Hertlein originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with deep roots in the Bavarian landscape. The name is a diminutive form of the Middle High German word Herto, which was a common personal name meaning hard or strong. Over many generations, the suffix lein was added to indicate a smaller version or a term of endearment, essentially identifying a person as the son or descendant of a man named Herto. By the late nineteenth century, families carrying this name were well established in the southern German state of Bavaria. These early ancestors were often integrated into the local agrarian and artisan economies that defined the region during the 1870s. As the family grew, they contributed to the social and cultural fabric of their local communities, maintaining their identity through a period of significant political change in the newly unified German Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Harto
A Germanic element meaning hardy, brave, or strong.
This name
HertleinA diminutive form referring to a brave or strong person.
also spelled
Herrlein
Hertlin
Hertline
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher und Standesamtsregister, 1872
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
