Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une licorne naiss. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: la licorne iss.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Steinberg family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'azur à une licorne naiss. d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: la licorne iss.”

The Steinberg arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1482.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat 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.
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
The history of the Steinberg name in Denmark begins with deep roots on the island of Sjælland, where family members were documented as early as 1482. During this period, the name likely emerged as a topographic descriptor, reflecting the family’s connection to the rocky or stony landscapes common in parts of the Danish countryside. As the name took hold in the region, the family became part of the local social fabric, navigating the shifts in Danish society during the late Middle Ages. Because the name is Germanic in origin, its presence in Sjælland suggests that the family may have been part of the broader migration patterns and trade networks that linked Denmark to Northern Germany. By establishing themselves in the heart of the Danish kingdom, these early ancestors helped set the stage for the family to grow and evolve alongside the nation for centuries to come.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion naiss. d'arg., cour. d'or. ramp. contre un rocher d'arg., mouv. du flanc dextre: le tout mouv. d'une eau d'arg. en p.; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à un casque au nat., taré de trois quarts, grillé de trois pièces d'or, le crâne du casque environné d'une couronne de laurier de sin. Sur le tout d'or à un rang de quatre ou cinq rochers d'arg., mouv. de la p. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion cont. d'or, tenant une épée au nat.; 2° un bouquetin iss. d'or, accorné d'arg.; entre un vol, coupé alt. d'or, et de sa.; 3° un bras, arm. d'arg., en pal, la main de carn. tenant une couronne de laurier de sin., ornée en flancs de deux roses de gu. et en”

The Steinberg arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1654.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Stockholm.
Stockholm held the Swedish court and the House of Nobility, where every noble family's arms were entered and kept. Families ennobled for service registered there, which is why so many are recorded around the city.
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.
In Sweden, a coat of arms belonged to a noble family as a whole rather than just one individual. These arms were passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants. Younger branches of the family used the same shield without needing to change it. This system ensured that the entire lineage shared the same identity and status under the law.
The name Steinberg first appeared in the official records of Stockholm in 1654, marking the family as part of the vibrant urban landscape during Sweden’s period as a major European power. At this time, Stockholm was rapidly expanding as a center for trade and administration, and many families with German-sounding names moved to the city to work as merchants, craftsmen, or government officials. The name itself is descriptive, likely originating from the German words for stone and mountain or hill, which suggests that the family’s ancestors may have lived near a rocky landscape before settling in the Swedish capital. By establishing themselves in Stockholm during the mid-17th century, the early members of the Steinberg family became part of the city’s growing middle class. They lived through a time of significant social change as Sweden transitioned into a centralized state, and their presence in the city archives provides a clear link to the professional and social networks that defined life in old Stockholm.
Stone and mountain or hill

