Map of Germany showing where the Wehrle arms are recorded
The Wehrle arms were recorded in Brunswick, c. 1765.
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 Wehrle 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 Wehrle Family in Germany
The surname Wehrle is a traditional German name that originated as a short form of various given names starting with the Germanic element "war," which relates to protection or defense. By the mid-18th century, families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Brunswick. Historical records confirm that members of the Wehrle family were living in this area by 1765. During this period, the family likely worked in trades or agriculture, as was common for citizens in the German states at that time. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the community life of the region through their daily work and civic participation. The name has since been passed down through generations, serving as a link to these early ancestors who settled in the heart of Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Waro
Old High German word meaning guard, protection, or defense.
This name
WehrleA diminutive form referring to a person who served as a guard or protector.
also spelled
Werlee
Werl
Werleh
Werley
Werlay
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
Lower Saxony State Archives (Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv), Bestand 1 Alt: Fürstentum Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel
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anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
