A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Thorstenson family of Sweden.
Reg. 8747 · 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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Sweden showing where the Thorstenson arms are recorded
The Thorstenson 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 Thorstenson 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 Thorstenson Family in Sweden
The surname Thorstenson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Thorsten. This naming tradition was very common in Scandinavia during the seventeenth century. By 1647, records show that members of the Thorstenson family were established in Stockholm. At that time, Stockholm was a growing center of power and trade within the Swedish Empire. Families living in the city during this period were often involved in the professional guilds or the administrative work required to run a capital city. Because the name is rooted in the Old Norse name Thorsten, which combines the words for the god Thor and stone, it carries a sense of strength and ancient heritage. The presence of the family in the capital suggests they were part of the urban development that defined Sweden during the mid-1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Thor
The Old Norse god of thunder and strength.
This name
ThorstensonSon of Thor, referring to a descendant of someone named after the Norse thunder god.
also spelled
Torstensson
Torstensonh
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Otterbjörk, Roland. Svenska förnamn: kortfattat namnlexikon. 1964
Stockholms stadsarkiv. Mantalslängder för Stockholms stad. 1647
af Chapman, Fredrik Henrik. Svenska släktnamn. 1810
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
