A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Nebel family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 1421 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. au lion d'arg.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un chevalier, arm. d'arg., la visière levée, le casque panaché de gu., tenant une épée d'arg., en pal. Sur le tout d'azur à trois étoiles d'or. S.: deux lions d'or.”
Germanyc. 1530
Where the Nebel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Nebel arms are recorded
The Nebel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1530.
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.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Germany when the Nebel 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 Nebel Family in Germany
The surname Nebel originated in the German-speaking regions as a descriptive name, likely referring to a person who lived in a foggy or misty area. By the year 1530, historical records confirm that members of the Nebel family were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, the family was part of a society transitioning through the intense social and religious changes of the Reformation. As the name suggests a connection to the landscape, it is probable that early ancestors were farmers or rural workers who identified their homes by the local weather patterns. Over the following centuries, the family name spread from these Bavarian roots across various German states, reflecting the movement of people in search of new opportunities in trade and agriculture.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une faucille d'or, en pal, le tranchant dentelé, celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une rose d'arg. C.: deux faucilles affr. de l'écu, supp. ensemble une rose d'arg.”
AustriaVienne, c. 1772
Where the Nebel Arms Were Recorded
Vienne
Map of Austria showing where the Nebel arms are recorded
The Nebel arms were recorded in Vienne, c. 1772.
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.
Region
Vienne
Town
Vienne
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Nebel Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Nebel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Nebel Family in Austria
The name Nebel is a German surname that translates literally to fog or mist, often serving as a descriptive nickname for ancestors who lived in low-lying, misty areas or perhaps those with a mysterious demeanor. By the time the family established a documented presence in Vienna in 1772, the city was a thriving hub of the Habsburg Empire. During this period, Vienna was undergoing significant modernization under the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, which attracted many skilled workers and families to the capital. The Nebel family likely integrated into this bustling urban environment as the city expanded its administrative and commercial reach. As residents of Vienna in the late eighteenth century, they would have witnessed the transformation of the city from a walled fortress into a center of European culture and enlightenment. The family name persisted through these changing times, marking their place in the social fabric of Austrian history as the empire navigated the complex political shifts of the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nebul
A Proto-Indo-European term referring to moisture, vapor, or clouds.
This name
NebelA topographic name for someone who lived in a misty or foggy area.
also spelled
Nebell
Nebele
Nebl
Related arms
Thomann Edle von Montalmarsimilar arms
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
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
lionCourage, strength and royalty
knightChivalry and service in arms
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
