A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schmahl family of Germany.
Reg. 4793 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'or au saut. d'azur; et un écusson de gu., br. sur le tout. C.: un écusson de gu., entre un vol d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
GermanyOstfrise, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Schmahl arms are recorded
The Schmahl arms were recorded in Ostfrise, 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 Schmahl 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 Schmahl Family in Germany
The surname Schmahl originates from the German language and is rooted in the Middle High German word "smal," which translates to small or slender. Historically, this name functioned as a descriptive nickname, likely given to an individual of slight physical stature or someone who lived a modest lifestyle. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Schmahl family were well-established in the region of East Frisia, known in German as Ostfriesland. This area, located along the North Sea coast, was characterized by its unique marshland geography and a strong tradition of independent farming communities. Families in this region often relied on the fertile soil and maritime trade to sustain their livelihoods. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the agricultural and cultural development of the East Frisian landscape during the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
smal
A Middle High German term meaning small or little.
This name
SchmahlA descriptive nickname for a person of short stature or small physical build.
also spelled
Schmall
Schmahl
Schmale
Shmal
Small
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
Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv (Aurich), Kirchenbuchduplikate der Ämter und Städte Ostfrieslands, 1765
Udolph, Jürgen, Duden: Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
