A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wilster family of Denmark.
Reg. 9248 · Danish, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 la bande d'azur, acc. de deux corbeaux au nat., posés chacun sur un monticule de sin. C.: deux prob. coupées alt. de gu. et d'arg.; et un sauvage de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, posé entre les prob. qu'il embrasse.”
Denmarkc. 1755
Where the Wilster Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Wilster arms are recorded
The Wilster arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1755.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 Denmark in this period.
Frederick V of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederick V of Denmark
1746–1766
Reigning in Denmark when the Wilster arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Wilster Family in Denmark
The Wilster family name is deeply rooted in the history of the Danish island of Sjælland, where records confirm the family’s presence by the mid-18th century. During the 1755 period, the family was established within the social and professional structures of the region, often associated with military service and the administrative life of the Danish state. The name itself reflects the naming customs common in Northern Europe during this era, where surnames were often tied to specific geographic origins or ancestral occupations. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the area through their roles in government and public affairs. This early history highlights a family that was well-connected and active during a time of significant growth and modernization in Denmark.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wilst
Derived from the Old High German element wil meaning will or desire.
This name
WilsterA locational surname referring to someone from the town of Wilster in Schleswig-Holstein.
also spelled
Wilster
Wilsteren
Wylster
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hiort-Lorenzen, H. R. and Thiset, A., Danmarks Adels Aarbog, 1893
Lex, Ole, Sjælland i det 18. århundrede, 1985
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjælland (Parish registers for Sjælland)
Rigsarkivet (Danish National Archives), Generalitetets arkiv (Records of the General Command)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ravenConstancy and divine providence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ravenConstancy and divine providence
