A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leopold family of Germany.
Reg. 0778 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Tiercé en pairle renv.: à dextre d'arg., à sen. d'or, en p. d'azur; l'or ch. d'un senestrochère, arm. au nat., mouv. du flanc, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or.”
Germanyc. 1753
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Map of Germany showing where the Leopold arms are recorded
The Leopold arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1753.
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 Leopold 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 Leopold Family in Germany
The name Leopold originates from the Old High German name Luitpold, which combines the words for people and bold. This name was historically popular among German nobility and rulers, which helped it spread across various regions over several centuries. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the Bavarian region. Records from 1753 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this area during a time of significant agricultural and social transition in the Holy Roman Empire. As families in Bavaria often settled in specific villages for generations, the presence of the Leopold name in 1753 suggests deep roots in the local community. These early ancestors likely participated in the traditional trades or farming practices that defined rural life in southern Germany during the Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Liutbald
Derived from Germanic elements meaning people and bold.
This name
LeopoldA name signifying a bold or brave person among the people.
also spelled
Leopolde
Leopoldd
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
