A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ohlendorf family of Germany.
Reg. 2070 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 parti: a. d'arg. à trois roses de gu.; b. de gu. à une licorne ramp. d'arg.; au 2 d'azur à trois pals d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une licorne iss. d'arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur. D.: WEITER.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Ohlendorf arms are recorded
The Ohlendorf arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1765.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Ohlendorf 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Ohlendorf Family in Germany
The surname Ohlendorf is a topographic name that originated in Northern Germany. It is composed of the Low German words "ohl," meaning old, and "dorp," meaning village. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry this name likely lived in or near an ancient settlement. By the year 1765, records confirm that the family was well-established in the Mecklenburg region. During this period, families in Mecklenburg were often closely tied to the land and local agricultural traditions. The name served as a way to identify individuals based on their geographic roots within these rural communities. As the family grew, members spread across the region while maintaining the name that connected them to their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ohlendorf
Derived from the Old High German words for oil and village.
This name
OhlendorfRefers to a person who lived in or originated from a village associated with oil production.
also spelled
Ohlendorf
Ohlendorp
Olendorf
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
