A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Stenzel family of Germany.
Reg. 9647 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
swordJustice, and military honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à un bras, paré d'azur, iss. d'une nuée d'arg., mouv. du flanc sen. en chef, enfonçant une épée au nat. dans un tertre de sin., mouv. du canton dextre de la p. Cq. cour. C.: un bras, paré d'azur, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Stenzel arms are recorded
The Stenzel arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Stenzel 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Stenzel Family in Germany
The surname Stenzel is a Germanized form of the Slavic name Stanislav, which carries the proud meaning of someone who achieves glory or fame. By the middle of the 18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Silesia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Prussia. During this period, Silesia was a diverse area where German and Slavic cultures blended together, and the name Stenzel served as a bridge between these two linguistic traditions. Families with this name were often involved in the agricultural and craft-based economy of the rural villages that dotted the Silesian landscape. As the population grew and moved throughout the region, the Stenzel name became a common identifier for families who had deep roots in the local community and a long history of contributing to the development of their home province.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Stanislaus
Derived from Slavic elements meaning stand and glory or fame.
This name
StenzelA diminutive form of the name Stanislaus, signifying one who achieves glory.
also spelled
Stenzel
Stentsel
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
Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu (State Archive in Wrocław), Akta stanu cywilnego (Civil Registry Records), 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
swordJustice, and military honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
swordJustice, and military honour
