Map of Germany showing where the Werle arms are recorded
The Werle 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 Werle 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 Werle Family in Germany
The surname Werle is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a topographic name for people who lived near a riverbank or a swampy area. In the Middle High German language, the term "wer" often referred to a piece of land surrounded by water or a river island. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family established a notable presence in the city of Brunswick, which was then a major center within the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local urban economy, working as skilled tradespeople or merchants who helped maintain the city’s status as a hub for trade and craftsmanship. As the family settled into this region, they became part of the local social fabric, contributing to the growth and daily life of Brunswick during a time of significant political and cultural change in Northern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Werilo
An ancient Germanic diminutive form meaning protector or guardian.
This name
WerleA topographic name for someone living near a river bank or a defensive fortification.
also spelled
Werlee
Werl
Werleh
Werley
Werlay
Related arms
Werlvariant 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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Braunschweig, Bürger- und Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Stadt Braunschweig, 1765
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anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
