Map of Germany showing where the Ole arms are recorded
The Ole arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought arms.
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 Ole 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Ole Family in Germany
The family name Ole has deep roots in the Westphalia region of Germany, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name likely originated as a shortened form of names like Olaf or Olearius, which were common in Northern Europe during the late Middle Ages. In the eighteenth century, Westphalia was a landscape of small farming communities and growing trade centers, and families often identified themselves by their specific local parish or trade. As the family lived in this region, they were part of a society transitioning through significant social and economic changes. Because surnames were still becoming standardized during this period, the name Ole served as a vital link for the family to maintain their identity within their local village records and church registries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adal
Old High German word meaning noble or nobility.
This name
OleA diminutive form of names like Ulrich or Olaf, signifying a noble heritage or ancestral relic.
also spelled
Olee
Oleh
Oley
Ola
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
Udolph, Jürgen, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Abteilung Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden (Westphalian Parish Registers)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
