A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leonhardt family of Germany.
Reg. 3808 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
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)
“De gu. à deux poissons d'arg., passés en saut. C.: un homme iss., hab. de gu., coiffé d'un bonnet du même, tenant une ancre renv. d'arg., posée en barre.”
GermanyFrancfort s, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Leonhardt arms are recorded
The Leonhardt arms were recorded in Francfort s, c. 1765.
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 Leonhardt 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 Leonhardt Family in Germany
The name Leonhardt is a German surname that originates from the ancient personal name Leonhard, which combines the words for lion and brave or hardy. During the Middle Ages, names based on animal traits were common because they represented the qualities people hoped to embody. By the time members of the family were documented in Frankfurt in 1765, the name had become a stable hereditary surname passed down through generations. Families living in major trading hubs like Frankfurt during the eighteenth century were often part of the growing middle class, which included skilled artisans, merchants, or civic workers. These early ancestors likely lived through a period of significant urban growth, contributing to the local economy and social structure of the city as it evolved into a central point for commerce in the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Leonhard
Derived from the Germanic elements for lion and brave or hardy.
This name
LeonhardtA surname meaning brave as a lion, denoting a person of great courage.
also spelled
Leonhart
Layonhard
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Institut für Stadtgeschichte Frankfurt am Main, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
