A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lesta family of Germany.
Reg. 4106 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 d'arg. à deux roses de gu.; au 2 d'azur à une rose d'arg. C.: trois pl. d'aut., de gu., d'arg. et d'azur, chaque pl. ch. d'une rose, d'arg., de gu. et d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lesta arms are recorded
The Lesta arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the 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 Lesta 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Lesta Family in Germany
The family name Lesta has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Silesia was a vibrant area undergoing significant social and political shifts under Prussian rule. Families in this region often lived in agricultural or trade-focused communities, and the name Lesta likely emerged as a way to identify individuals based on their specific village or their occupation. Because the name appears in local census and church records from this era, it suggests that the family was well-established within the local social structure of the time. Over the following generations, the family likely moved through the changing borders of Central Europe, carrying their name forward as they adapted to the industrial and cultural developments of the nineteenth century.
Lesta Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Laetus
Latin term meaning joyful, glad, or happy.
This name
LestaA habitational name derived from a place name or a nickname for a cheerful person.
also spelled
Leste
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Knie, Johann Georg, Alphabetisch-statistisch-topographische Uebersicht der Dörfer, Flecken, Städte und andern Orte der Königl. Preuß. Provinz Schlesien, 1845
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne parafii rzymskokatolickich, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
