A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mackel family of Germany.
Reg. 5650 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
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)
“D'or à la fasce de sa., supp. deux chev. accostés du même; la fasce acc. en p. d'un gland feuillé au nat., la queue en bas. C.: le gland; entre un vol, coupé alt. de sa. et d'or.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Mackel arms are recorded
The Mackel arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Mackel 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Mackel Family in Germany
The family name Mackel has deep roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Westphalia was a landscape defined by small farming communities and a growing network of trade towns. Families like the Mackels were often tied to the land, working as skilled laborers or farmers who helped sustain the local economy. The name itself likely evolved from regional dialects, serving as a way to identify individuals based on their specific village or their role within the local parish. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the development of the rural communities that thrived before the industrial changes of the nineteenth century. By maintaining their presence in Westphalia, the early Mackels helped preserve the traditions and cultural identity of a region known for its strong sense of community and local history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Maximilianus
Derived from the Latin word maximus meaning greatest.
This name
MackelA diminutive form of names like Maximilian, often signifying the greatest or a son of the greatest.
also spelled
Mokel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
