Bielefeld

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Germany - Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen)

BIELEFELD

State : Nordrhein-Westfalen
Urban District (Stadtkreis) : Bielefeld
Additions : 1930 Schildesche Dorf, Sieker, Stieghorst; 1973 Amt Brackwede, Amt Dornberg, Amt Gadderbaum, Amt Heepen, Amt Jöllenbeck (1930 Amt Schildesche), Altenhagen, Babenhausen, Brackwede (1970 Quelle), Brake, Brönninghausen, Gadderbaum, Großdornberg, Heepen, Hillegossen, Hoberge-Uerentrup, Jöllenbeck (1952 Niederjöllenbeck, Oberjöllenbeck), Kirchdornberg, Lämershagen-Gräfinghagen, Milse, Niederdornberg-Deppendorf, Oldentrup, Schröttinghausen, Senne I, Sennestadt (1965 Senne II), Theesen, Ubbedissen, Vilsendorf

Official blazon

Im goldenen Feld unter einem roten zinnenbewehrten und mit zwei Mauertürmchen bestandenen offenen Mauerbogen einen silbernen Schild mit drei roten Sparren

Origin/meaning

Bielefeld probably got city rights in the early 13^th century.

The oldest seals of the city date from 1231 and 1263. These already showed a gate, which has been also used as the arms ever since. The actual picture of the gate has changed often during the centuries. Sometimes the patron saint St. George is shown above the gate, sometimes the small shield is shown, sometimes not.

The small shield is derived from the arms of the Counts of Ravensberg, who owned the town until 1346.

St. George was the patron saint of Bielefeld-Neustadt, which was joined with Bielefeld in 1520.

Seal of Bielefeld	eal of Neustadt with St. George
Seal of Bielefeld from around 1900	The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925
The arms in the Abdulla albums, 1920s	The arms on a matchbox label
The arms as shown on the city hall (image by Klaus-Micahel Schneider, Hamburg)l

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes. Images of old seals from 750 Jahre Bielefeld, unsere Stadt im Wandel der Zeit, 1964.