A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mergenthaler family of Germany.
Reg. 5670 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la bande, côtoyée de six fleurs-de-lis, posées en bandes, et acc. d'une septième fleur-de-lis, posée en bande au canton dextre de la p., le tout d'arg. C.: un chapeau pyramidal d'azur, retr. d'arg., sommé de cinq pl. d'aut., alt. d'azur et d'arg.; le chapeau ch. d'une bande d'arg., côtoyée de deux fleurs-de-lis du même, posées en bandes.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Mergenthaler arms are recorded
The Mergenthaler arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 Mergenthaler 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Mergenthaler Family in Germany
The family name Mergenthaler originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a topographic surname. The name is composed of two parts: "Mergen," which likely refers to a local stream or a variation of a personal name, and "Thal," which means valley. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely identified by the specific valley where they lived or worked. By 1765, records confirm that the family was well-established in the region of Saxony. During this period, families in Saxony were often deeply connected to the land, working as skilled farmers, craftsmen, or local administrators. As the family grew, they moved through the rural landscapes of the German states, carrying the name as a marker of their geographic roots and their history within the Saxon countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Margaretha
Derived from the Greek word for pearl.
This name
MergenthalerA habitational name for someone originating from a valley associated with a pearl-like or precious location.
also spelled
Mergenthall
Mergenthale
Mergenthaler
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
