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Listed below are descriptions of the civic coat of arms for several regions which I've come across during my research. We can claim at least one ancestor from each of the villages listed below.

badenbad.jpg * Baden-Württemberg, Germany ~~ the Lidle family and several Schwechheimers
 Urban District (Kreisfreie Stadt) : Baden-Baden
Additions : 1909 five villages, 1972-5 Ebersteinburg, Haueneberstein, Neuweier, Sandweier, Steinbach, Varnhalt
The village became around 1100 a possession of Hermann II of the Zhringen family, who named himself after the town, Count of Baden. During the 13th century the town received city rights and became the capital of the County of Baden, since 1535 of the branch Baden-Baden. It remained the capital until the early 18th century. The city has always used the arms of the Counts of Baden as its arms. The oldest known seal dates from the 14th century, but is known only since 1421. The arms thus have never changed since. To distinguish the arms of the city from those of the Duchy and State of Baden, the city often used a mural crown, but this was never officially approved.

Devon, England (United Kingdom) ~~ Maturin Ballou, patriarch of the Ballou line.
 The arms were granted in 1926.
The red lion is that of Richard, Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans. The crown denotes royal descent. The chief illustrates the maritime heritage of the County, in particular Sir Francis Drake's ship, The Golden Hind. In 1962 a crest and supporters were added. The crest has a Naval crown for the long association of the Royal Navy with Devon. From this rises a pony's head. This represents Dartmoor, where wild ponies still roam. The dexter supporter is a bull for agriculture and the sinister a sealion for the sea. Thus both the inland and coastal communities of Devon are shown. The motto was that used by Sir Francis Drake and means By Divine Aid.

Kent, England, (United Kingdom) ~~ James Gilson, patriarch of the Gilson/Jillson line
 The arms were granted on 17 October 1933 and re-confirmed in 1975. The white horse of Kent is supposedly the old symbol for the Saxon kingdom of Kent, dating from the 6-8th century. The crest shows a mural crown, which symbolises the many castles in the county, as well as the independent Saxon kingdom of Kent. The sails are symbols for the strong ties of the county with the sea and stand for the navy, the mercantile marine and fisheries. The sea lions are also a symbol for the strong ties with the navy, the lion being the British lion. The sea lions also symbolise that Kent is the frontier of Britain with continental Europe. The left supporter wears the arms of the Cinque Ports, five harbour cities that had to provide support for the English navy until modern times. Four of these cities are in Kent. The arms are three lions with ship hulls as tails. The right supporter wears a shield with the arms of the Archbishopric of Canterbury, founded in 597 by St. Augustine. Canterbury is in Kent. The motto means 'unconquered'. In 1067, shortly after the Norman Conquest (1066, as every schoolboy knows), a detachment of Kentishmen ambushed the newly crowned King William and surrounded him. In return for his life, he promised that the county would be able to keep its ancient privileges - thus Kent was the only part of England unconquered by the Normans (that is, according to legend).

Niederrhein-Westfalen, Germany ~~ all of our Metternich ancestors
 The arms are a combination of the rose of Lippe, the stallion of Westfalen and the arms of the Grand-Duchy Niederrhein. The arms were granted on March 10, 1953 The rose of Lippe is taken as a large part of the state was part of the Principality of Lippe, which became a province of Prussia in 1921. The rose as arms for the counts of Lippe is known since Bernard II zur Lippe (1167-1200). More on the history of Lippe will be added later in a section on historical provinces and states. Westfalen was first a duchy. later a grand-duchy under the arch-bishops of Köln (Cologne). Ever since arms of Westfalen are known, the stallion was part of the arms. The stallion itself is derived from the arms of (Nieder)Sachsen). It was also one of the major symbols in the arms of the (short-lived) kingdom Westfalen in the 19th century and the purssian province. More on the history of Westfalen will be added later in a section on historical provinces and states. The white fess symbolises the river Rhein (Rhine) flowing through fertile land. It was devised in 1817 for the Prussian province and grand-duchy Niederrhein. More on the history of Niederrhein will be added later in a section on historical provinces and states. I am currently searching for the actualy village of Metternich heraldry, I will let everyone know of the update when I find it.

Somerset, England (United Kingdom) ~~ all of our Arnold ancestors
 The arms were granted in 1911. Tha arms show a dragon from the attributed arms of the Kingdom of Wessex. The Wessex dragon also features in the arms of the neighbouring counties of Dorset, Avon and Wiltshire. To make the design distinctive, the dragon supports a civic mace. Thus the arms show that this is a local council in Wessex. The Motto is Sumorsaete Ealle meaning All the people of Somerset as mentioned in this extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A.D. 878. This year about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and subdued to their will; -- ALL BUT ALFRED THE KING. He, with a little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the moors. And in the winter of this same year the brother of Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the war- flag, which they called the RAVEN. In the Easter of this year King Alfred with his little force raised a work at Athelney; from which he assailed the army, assisted by that part of Somersetshire which was nighest to it. Then, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Brixton by the eastern side of Selwood; and there came out to meet him all the people of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and that part of Hampshire which is on this side of the sea; and they rejoiced to see him. Then within one night he went from this retreat to Hey; and within one night after he proceeded to Heddington; and there fought with all the army, and put them to flight, riding after them as far as the fortress, where he remained a fortnight. Then the army gave him hostages with many oaths, that they would go out of his kingdom. They told him also, that their king would receive baptism. And they acted accordingly; for in the course of three weeks after, King Guthrum, attended by some thirty of the worthiest men that were in the army, came to him at Aller, which is near Athelney, and there the king became his sponsor in baptism; and his crisom-leasing was at Wedmor. He was there twelve nights with the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents. This is the first written reference to the county.

Castlebar, Mayo, Ireland ~~ Henry Coleman (O'Malia), patriarch to the Coleman/O'Malia line.
 Unfortunately there is no information as to the origin of this coat of arms.









All research and coat of arms jpgs were made possible by Ralf Hartemink. For more information please go to his extremely informative website at www.ngw.nl