Elmshorn

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

ELMSHORN

State : Schleswig-Holstein
District (Kreis) : Pinneberg

Official blazon

In Rot auf blau-silbernen Wellen segelnd ein silbernes Vollschiff mit gerefften Bramsegeln am Fock- und Kreuzmast.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on November 20, 1903 and confirmed on June 23, 1954. The difference between the arms of 1903 and 1954 is only that the mural crown granted in 1903 was omitted in 1954.

The arms show a ship, symbol for the importance of sailing and fishing for the development of the city. Especially whaling was of great importance for a long time.

Elmshorn received city rights in 1877 (other sources state 1870 and 1879) and around that time adopted as arms the so-called Nesselblatt, with a small escutcheon divided in silver and red, the arms of Holstein.
In 1877 the city was informed that it was not allowed to use the arms of Holstein as such, but it was proposed to add in the small shield a river, the name Elmshorn could be explained as a "curve (in a river) near the beeches"(Elms from Ulme=beeches, Horn for a curve or bend).

The local council accepted the proposal and used the arms until 1903, even though they were not officially granted.
In 1897 the president of the government of the province Schleswig-Holstein asked the city on which laws the arms were used. Shortly after it was stated that the city was supposed to use the Prussian eagle as the city had no official arms. On March 10, 1899 the city was again informed that the use of the old arms was not allowed. Still, the sity kept using the arms until 1903.