A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hodel family of Germany.
Reg. 0969 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de gu. au lion de ... soutenu d'un tertre de sin.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à trois fleurs-de-lis de gu.; au 4 de gu. à un chamois ramp. au nat., soutenu d'un tertre de sin. C.: 1° le lion, iss., entre un vol, d'azur et d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'une fleur-de-lis de gu.; 2° un vol, d'or et de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une fleur-de-lis de l'un à l'autre.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Hodel arms are recorded
The Hodel arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Hodel 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 Hodel Family in Germany
The family name Hodel traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with documented evidence placing members of the family in Bavaria by the year 1765. Linguists believe the name originated as a diminutive form of the Germanic name Hugo, which means mind or intellect. During the eighteenth century, the Hodel family lived in a society defined by agrarian traditions and local craft guilds. As the family established their presence in Bavarian villages, they likely worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople who contributed to the regional economy. Over time, the name evolved through regional dialects, reflecting the movement of families across the borders of the Holy Roman Empire. By the late 1700s, the Hodel name was firmly integrated into the social fabric of southern Germany, where families maintained records of their births, marriages, and deaths within local parish registers.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hodo
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for fame or glory.
This name
HodelA diminutive or patronymic form referring to a descendant of someone named Hodo.
also spelled
Hoedle
Hoedell
Hoedel
Hoodl
Hodel
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
antelopeHarmony, polity and peace
