A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Riedesel family of Germany.
Reg. 2536 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un rencontre d'âne de sa., tenant entre ses dents trois feuilles de sin. C.: un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'un écusson des armes.”
HesseHesse, c. 1870
Where the Riedesel Arms Were Recorded
Hesse
Map of Germany showing where the Riedesel arms are recorded
The Riedesel arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1870.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of coats of 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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Riedesel 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 Hesse.
Origin & History of the Riedesel Family in Germany
The Riedesel family holds a long and notable history rooted in the region of Hesse, Germany. The name itself is thought to have originated from a combination of old German words that suggest a person who was a bold or strong traveler. By the time the family became well-established in the 19th century, they were already recognized as members of the regional nobility. Their influence was particularly strong in the area surrounding the town of Lauterbach, where they served as important landowners and administrators for centuries. While the family was firmly settled in Hesse by 1870, their lineage can be traced back much further to medieval times when they first gained prominence as knights and local leaders. This deep connection to the Hessian landscape helped the family maintain a consistent social and political presence throughout the changing eras of German history.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ried
A clearing or a piece of land cleared of trees.
This name
RiedeselDerived from a topographic location, referring to someone who lived near a cleared area.
also spelled
Reedezel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kühn, Walter. Die Riedesel zu Eisenbach. 1969
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horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
