Map of Germany showing where the Schmehl arms are recorded
The Schmehl 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 Schmehl 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 Schmehl Family in Germany
The surname Schmehl is deeply rooted in the historical region of Franconia, specifically within the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Records confirm that members of the family were established residents in this area by 1765. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to a specific occupation, as was common for German surnames during the late Middle Ages. Families like the Schmehls often played vital roles in the local economy of medieval towns by working as skilled craftspeople or tradesmen. Because Rothenburg was a significant center for commerce and politics, families living there were often well-integrated into the social fabric of the town. Over time, the family name became a permanent fixture in local parish registers, which tracked the births, marriages, and deaths of the townspeople for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schmehlen
To smear, smudge, or soil with grease or dirt.
This name
SchmehlA nickname for a person who was messy, greasy, or worked with lubricants.
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 St.-Jakobs-Kirche (Parish records of St. James Church)
Staatsarchiv Nürnberg, Reichsstadt Rothenburg, Akten der Stadtverwaltung (Imperial City of Rothenburg, City Administration Files)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kuhn, Walter, Geschichte der deutschen Siedlung im Mittelalter, 1955
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
