Map of Germany showing where the Schemmel arms are recorded
The Schemmel arms were recorded in Rothenburg Bav, c. 1765.
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 Schemmel 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 Schemmel Family in Germany
The family name Schemmel has deep roots in the historical region of Franconia, specifically within the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Schemmel family were well-established residents of this area. The name itself is likely derived from the Middle High German word "schemel," which referred to a footstool or a low bench. In the context of early surnames, this often served as a descriptive nickname for a person who worked as a woodworker or a carpenter. Alternatively, it may have identified someone who lived near a specific landmark or held a particular position in the local community. As citizens of a prominent imperial city, the early Schemmels were part of a structured society defined by trade guilds and local governance. Their presence in Rothenburg suggests they were integrated into the daily life of a town famous for its preservation of traditional German culture and architecture.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Simon
Hebrew for he has heard or listening
This name
SchemmelA diminutive or patronymic form derived from the given name Simon
also spelled
Shemel
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Kirchenbücher der Stadtpfarrei St. Jakob
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bürgeraufnahmen und Ratsprotokolle
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
