A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thorsteinson family of Sweden.
Reg. 8176 · Swedish, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'azur au lion d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu., cour. d'or, tenant entre ses pattes un demi-vol de sa., les meubles du 4 cont.; aux 2 et 3 coupé: a. d'arg. à un canon sur son affût au nat., se déchargeant et posé sur une terrasse de sin.; le canon du 2 cont.; b. de gu. à une pile de trois boulets mal-ordonnés au nat. Sur le tout d'azur au chev. d'arg., acc. en p. d'une feuille de tilleul de sin., la tige en haut. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° un lion iss. d'or, arm. et lamp. de gu., cour. d'or, tenant de sa patte dextre un demi-vol de sa. et de sa sen. une grenade d'or, allumée en trois endroits de gu.; 2° un lévrier iss. d'arg., la tête cont., entre huit bannières alt. d'or et d'azur, quatre à dextre et quatre à sen.; 3° un chevalier cont., arm. de toutes pièces, brandissant une épée et monté sur un cheval galopant et cont., le tout au nat. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Swedenc. 1647
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Map of Sweden showing where the Thorsteinson arms are recorded
The Thorsteinson arms were recorded in Sweden, c. 1647.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Sweden in this period.
Christina of Sweden
Sovereign of the period
Christina of Sweden
1632–1654
Reigning in Sweden when the Thorsteinson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Sweden
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.
Granting authority
The Riddarhuset, or House of Nobility, regulated all noble coats of arms in Sweden under royal authority.
How they got arms
Families received their coats of arms through royal grants of nobility which were then officially registered with the House.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Swedish House of Nobility register starting in the year 1626.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sweden.
Origin & History of the Thorsteinson Family in Sweden
The name Thorsteinson is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of a man named Thorstein. This naming tradition was common throughout Scandinavia and reflects the deep cultural roots of the region. By 1647, records confirm that members of the family were established in Stockholm. During this period, Stockholm was a growing center of power and trade within the Swedish Empire. Families living in the city at that time often navigated a society defined by strict social hierarchies and the expansion of the state bureaucracy. As the family settled in the capital, they likely participated in the urban life of the seventeenth century, which included everything from merchant guilds to the service of the royal administration. Over time, the name evolved from a simple description of parentage into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Þorsteinn
Derived from the Old Norse god Thor and the word for stone.
This name
ThorsteinsonPatronymic surname meaning son of Thorsteinn, signifying a descendant of Thor's stone.
also spelled
Torstensson
Torstensonh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stockholm City Archives (Stockholms stadsarkiv), Mantalslängder för Stockholms stad (Taxation records for the city of Stockholm)
National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), Kyrkoarkiv (Church records)
Bååth, L. M., Stockholms stads privilegiebrev 1226–1700, 1927
Nilsson, Göran B., Stockholms historia, 1987
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
pileWell-doing, and a mark of distinction
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
leafHappiness and abundance
lionCourage, strength and royalty
