A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stenglein family of Germany.
Reg. 0869 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
duckResourcefulness on land and water
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 homme pass., posé de front, les cheveux épars, hab. d'une redingote, d'un pantalon et de souliers, le tout de gu., le rabat d'arg. posé sur une terrasse de sin.; tenant de sa main dextre une canne d'or; dans le lointain une chaîne de montagnes au nat. C.: un cygne de sa., le vol étendu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Stenglein arms are recorded
The Stenglein arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Germany when the Stenglein 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Stenglein Family in Germany
The surname Stenglein is a classic example of a German occupational or descriptive name that originated in the southern regions of Bavaria. Linguistically, the name is a diminutive form derived from the Middle High German word "stange," which refers to a pole, a rod, or a sturdy stick. It is likely that the first people to carry this name were craftsmen who worked with wood or metal, such as pole makers or fence builders, or perhaps individuals who were noted for their tall and slender physical stature. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-established within the Bavarian landscape, a time when the region was defined by small agricultural villages and strong local trade guilds. As these families grew, they became deeply rooted in the rural traditions of the area, often working as farmers or skilled tradespeople who passed their craft and their name down through generations in the same local parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stengel
A stalk, stem, or twig of a plant.
This name
StengleinA diminutive form referring to someone who is small or slender like a twig.
also spelled
Stenglin
Stengleyn
Stengline
Related arms
Stenglinvariant spelling
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer, Steuer- und Rechnungsunterlagen, 1765
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