A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Modzelewski family of Germany.
Reg. 7617 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 trois épées d'arg., garnies d'or, une en pal et les deux autres br. en saut.; à une étoile d'or, br. sur le point d'intersection des épées. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut., alt. d'azur et d'or.”
GermanyPrusse orientale, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Modzelewski arms are recorded
The Modzelewski arms were recorded in Prusse orientale, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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 Modzelewski 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 Modzelewski Family in Germany
The Modzelewski family name is rooted in the history of Central Europe, with records confirming that family members were established in the region of Bavaria by 1765. The name itself is of Slavic origin and is typically classified as a topographic or locational surname, which suggests that the family’s earliest ancestors likely took their name from a specific village or geographic feature in their homeland before migrating westward. During the eighteenth century, families often moved across borders for better economic opportunities or to escape regional conflicts. By settling in Bavaria, the Modzelewski family became part of the diverse social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire, where they lived alongside local populations while maintaining their distinct cultural identity. Over time, the family adapted to the local customs and languages of their new home, ensuring that their name survived as a record of their migration and their early presence in German lands.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Modzel
A Slavic diminutive form derived from the word for callus or lump.
This name
ModzelewskiA locative surname indicating a person originating from a place called Modzele.
also spelled
Modzelowsky
Modzelovski
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
swordJustice, and military honour
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
