A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leese family of Germany.
Reg. 1247 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 de gu. à trois étoiles mal-ordonnées d'arg.; au 2 d'azur à deux lions léopardés d'arg., l'un sur l'autre. A quatorze perles d'arg., accolées en fasce, br. sur le coupé.”
HolsteinSaxe-Cobourg-Gotha · Holstein, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Leese arms are recorded
The Leese arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1765.
Holstein was farming country between the North Sea and the Baltic, held in large estates. The same families kept the same land for generations, and generations of holding is what fills a register.
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 Leese 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 Holstein.
Origin & History of the Leese Family in Germany
The surname Leese is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern Germany, particularly within the region of Holstein. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the area, living through a period of significant social and agricultural change. The name itself likely originated as a topographic descriptor, referring to people who lived near a meadow or a pasture, which was a common way to identify individuals in rural communities during that era. As the family settled in Holstein by 1765, they became part of a society defined by its proximity to the North and Baltic Seas and its complex relationship with the neighboring Danish crown. These early ancestors were likely involved in the traditional farming or trade practices that sustained the region, helping to shape the local identity of the area for generations to come.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Elisabeth
My God is an oath or my God is abundance.
This name
LeeseA diminutive form derived from the name Elizabeth, often used as a topographic surname.
also spelled
Leese
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Klaus-Joachim Lorenzen-Schmidt, Schleswig-Holstein und die Welt, 2002
Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinden in Holstein, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
lionCourage, strength and royalty
