Deutsche Wappen (Gemeindewappen/Kreiswappen) German Civic Heraldry

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, Senne II, Sennestadt, Theesen, Ubbedissen, Vilsendorf

(names in italics: these municipalities used arms, but I have no images)

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.

Literature : Stadler, K. : Deutsche Wappen - Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Angelsachsen Verlag, 1964-1971, 8 volumes.

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