Map of Germany showing where the Nigrelli arms are recorded
The Nigrelli arms were recorded in Germany, 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 Nigrelli 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 Nigrelli Family in Germany
The family name Nigrelli traces its roots to the cultural landscape of southern Germany, where records confirm the presence of family members in Bavaria by 1765. The name itself is linguistically linked to the Italian term for black, which suggests that the original bearers may have been identified by a physical trait or a specific occupation. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a region defined by agricultural traditions and a growing movement of people between rural villages and emerging urban centers. Families like the Nigrellis often lived in close-knit communities where names were passed down through generations to maintain a sense of local identity. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic changes of the Holy Roman Empire, they contributed to the steady development of the regional population. This history reflects the broader patterns of migration and family establishment that shaped the social fabric of central Europe during the late Enlightenment era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Nigellus
Latin term meaning black or dark-colored.
This name
NigrelliA diminutive form indicating a descendant of someone with dark hair or a dark complexion.
also spelled
Nigrely
Nigreli
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
