A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Metzel family of Germany.
Reg. 8374 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
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)
“D'azur à un dextrochère, paré de sa. et au-dessus du coude d'arg., tenant un sabre du même et mouv. du flanc.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Metzel Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Metzel arms are recorded
The Metzel arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Metzel 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 Metzel Family in Germany
The surname Metzel is rooted in the linguistic traditions of southern Germany, where it likely originated as a shortened form of names like Matthias or Metzger. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the historic city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a bustling center for trade and skilled craftsmanship, which suggests that early members of the Metzel family were likely involved in the city’s thriving guild system. As residents of a major imperial city, they would have been subject to the strict municipal regulations and social structures that defined life in the Holy Roman Empire. The family name became a permanent fixture in local records as they participated in the urban economy and contributed to the growth of the region throughout the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Metz
A short form of the Germanic name Matthias meaning gift of God.
This name
MetzelA topographic name for someone living near a boundary or a diminutive form of Matthias.
also spelled
Metzele
Metzell
Metzelh
Metzelhe
Metsel
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
