A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lemen family of Germany.
Reg. 5047 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Tranché de sa. sur azur; à la bande de gu., br. sur le tranché; le sa. ch. d'une demi-aigle d'arg., mouv. de la bande; l'azur ch. de trois crampons d'arg., posés en bandes et rangés en demi-orle. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle iss. de sa., cour. d'or, ch. sur sa poitrine d'un croiss. du même; entre un vol coupé, a dextre d'arg. sur azur, à sen. de sa. sur arg. L. conformes aux émaux du vol.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lemen arms are recorded
The Lemen 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 Lemen 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 Lemen Family in Germany
The surname Lemen is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1765. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a locational identifier within the German-speaking regions of the Holy Roman Empire. During the eighteenth century, families in this area often lived in small, tight-knit agricultural communities where names were passed down to distinguish one household from another. As the family grew, members likely worked as skilled laborers or farmers, contributing to the local economy of the Bavarian countryside. The spelling of the name may have shifted slightly over time due to regional dialects and the way local clerks recorded names in parish registers. By remaining in this region for generations, the Lemen family became part of the long-standing cultural traditions that defined rural life in southern Germany during the late Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lehmann
A feudal tenant or a man who holds land by lease.
This name
LemenAn occupational surname for a person who managed or farmed land for a lord.
also spelled
Lemmens
Lemman
Lemmenn
Lemen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
orlePreservation, and protection in battle
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cramponFirm hold on what has been gained
