A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Kestrel family of Germany.
Reg. 3418 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à la bande de gu., ch. d'un lion léopardé d'arg.; au 2 éc. en saut.: a. de sa. à une fleur-de-lis d'or; b. de gu. à une fleur-de-lis d'arg.; c. d'arg. à une fleur-de-lis de gu.; d. d'or à une fleur-de-lis de sa. Cq. cour. C.: un Pégase galopant d'arg., la tête cont., les ailes coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Kestrel arms are recorded
The Kestrel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Kestrel 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 Kestrel Family in Germany
The family name Kestrel traces its roots to the rural landscapes of Bavaria during the mid-eighteenth century. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were established within this region, likely living as farmers or skilled tradespeople in the small villages dotting the countryside. The name itself is linked to the kestrel, a small and agile bird of prey common throughout Central Europe. It is probable that the name began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who possessed sharp eyesight or a swift, energetic nature. Over generations, this nickname transitioned from a personal identifier into a formal surname as families became more settled and administrative record-keeping became standard in Bavarian parishes. These early Kestrels were part of a hardworking society that relied on the rhythms of the seasons and the stability of local community life to thrive in a changing Germany.
Kestrel Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Kestrel
Derived from the Middle English word for a small falcon.
This name
KestrelAn occupational or habitational name referring to a person who hunted with falcons.
also spelled
Kestere
Kesterr
Kesterre
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
lionCourage, strength and royalty
