A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Lince family of Germany.
Reg. 7432 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti d'or et de sa.; l'or ch. d'un ours ramp. et cont. de sa., tenant de ses pattes une branche feuiliée d'or, en pal, br. sur le sa. Cq. cour. C.: l'ours iss., tourné à dextre, tenant la branche.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Lince arms are recorded
The Lince 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 Lince 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 Lince Family in Germany
The family name Lince 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 economic changes under Prussian administration. Families in this region often lived in rural or semi-urban settings, working in trades or agriculture that supported the local economy. The name likely evolved from regional dialects or descriptive nicknames common to the German-speaking populations of Central Europe at the time. As the family grew and moved through the changing borders of the nineteenth century, they carried this identifier as a link to their ancestral home. This early presence in Silesia suggests that the family was part of the foundational population that helped shape the local culture and history of the area before the industrial shifts of the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Linz
A geographical location or settlement situated near a river bend.
This name
LinceA topographic surname for someone who resided near a specific bend in a river.
also spelled
Lyncke
Linke
Link
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 anderen Orte der königlichen preußischen Provinz Schlesien. 1845
Zimmermann, Friedrich Albert. Beyträge zur Beschreibung von Schlesien. 1783
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Standesamt records for the Silesian region
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
