A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lentz family of Germany.
Reg. 3251 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un homme, tenant une faucille et une gerbe, le tout d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 de sa. à un bélier naiss. d'arg. Sur le tout éc.: a. et d. de sa. à une fleur-de-lis d'or; b. et c. de gu. à une fleur-de-lis d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un bélier iss. d'arg.; entre un vol, l'aile dextre de sa. ch. une fleur-de-lis d'or et l'aile sen. de gu. ch. d'une fleur-de-lis d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
GermanyBerlin, c. 1658
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Map of Germany showing where the Lentz arms are recorded
The Lentz arms were recorded in Berlin, c. 1658.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Lentz 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 Lentz Family in Germany
The family name Lentz is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Northern Germany, where it evolved as a shortened form of the name Lorenz. During the seventeenth century, the name was already well-established in urban centers like Berlin, where records confirm family members were living by 1658. At that time, Berlin was recovering from the devastation of the Thirty Years' War, and families with the name Lentz were often part of the emerging merchant and artisan classes that helped rebuild the city. Because the name was tied to the popular given name Lorenz, it spread across various regions, often appearing in church registers and local tax documents as the family integrated into the social and economic life of the Prussian capital. These early ancestors were likely witnesses to the rapid transformation of Berlin from a modest town into a significant center of power and trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lorenz
Derived from the Latin name Laurentius meaning from Laurentum or laurel crowned.
This name
LentzA patronymic surname originating as a shortened form of the name Lawrence.
also spelled
Lenz
Related arms
Lenzvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ramLeadership and authority
knightChivalry and service in arms
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
ramLeadership and authority
