A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stempel family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3846 · Dutch, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
vairProtection, and the winter fur
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
VairMeans: Protection
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)
“De gu. à trois pals de vair; au chef d'or, ch. à dextre d'une rose du champ, et à sen. d'un fer-de-moulin de sa.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
Where the Stempel Arms Were Recorded
Friesland
Map of Netherlands showing where the Stempel arms are recorded
The Stempel arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry 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.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Stempel Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Netherlands when the Stempel arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Stempel Family in Netherlands
The surname Stempel has deep roots in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where the word originally referred to a tool used for stamping or marking, often associated with metalworkers or officials who used seals. By the early nineteenth century, the family established a clear presence in the northern province of Friesland, as evidenced by official civil records from 1815. During this period, the Netherlands underwent significant administrative changes under the Napoleonic Code, which required families to formalize their surnames for tax and census purposes. Because Friesland was a region defined by its distinct maritime culture and agricultural independence, the Stempel family likely integrated into these local communities as skilled tradespeople or laborers. The name reflects a history of craftsmanship, suggesting that early ancestors may have held roles that required precision or the use of specific marking tools in their daily work.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à un carré de gu., percé d'un manche du même en pal. C.: un vol aux armes de l'écu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Stempel Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Stempel arms are recorded
The Stempel arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Netherlands when the Stempel 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 Stempel Family in Germany
The surname Stempel originates from the German word for a stamp or a die, which suggests that the earliest ancestors to carry this name likely worked as skilled craftsmen. In the medieval period, many families adopted surnames based on the tools they used in their daily trades. A person who manufactured metal stamps for coins, seals, or leatherwork would have been known by this occupational title. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that members of the Stempel family were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, families often lived in small agricultural or craft-based communities where their professional identity became synonymous with their family name. These early Stempels were likely part of the hardworking middle class that helped sustain the local economy through specialized manual labor. As they moved through the German states, they carried this name as a testament to the technical precision and craftsmanship that defined their ancestral trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
stempel
A metal tool used for marking, stamping, or impressing designs.
This name
StempelAn occupational name for a person who worked as a stamper or seal maker.
also spelled
Stemple
Stempell
Stempelr
Related arms
Cocq (de) van Delwynensimilar arms
Crécysimilar arms
van Kerkwyksimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
AlleFriezen, Burgerlijke Stand Geboorteakten (1815)
Nationaal Archief, Registers van de Burgerlijke Stand (1815)
Van der Schaar, J., Woordenboek van familienamen, 1988
Debrabandere, Frans, Woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk, 1993
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
