A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Padberg family of Germany.
Reg. 5110 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à deux fasces coupées nébulées d'arg. sur azur; au 2 de gu. à un saumon d'arg. en pal, courbé en demi-cercle. C.: cinq pl. d'aut.: d'arg., d'azur, d'or, de gu. et d'arg. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1876
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Map of Germany showing where the Padberg arms are recorded
The Padberg arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1876.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Padberg arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Padberg Family in Germany
The surname Padberg is rooted in the landscape of medieval Germany, specifically originating as a topographic name. It is derived from the Old High German words for path and mountain or hill, suggesting that the earliest families bearing this name lived near a prominent trail or a mountain pass. While the name is famously associated with the region of Westphalia, where a noble family held the Padberg castle as early as the twelfth century, the name also spread across various German states over time. By the late nineteenth century, branches of the family were well-established in Bavaria. During this period, these families were often integrated into the local agricultural or trade communities, reflecting the broader migration patterns of the era as people moved throughout the German Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Padberg
Derived from the Old High German words for path and mountain.
This name
PadbergRefers to a person who lived near a mountain path or a mountain pass.
also spelled
Padtberg
Padbergh
Patberg
Related arms
Padtbergvariant spelling
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher und Zivilstandsregister, 1876
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
