Ballenstedt

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

BALLENSTEDT

State : Sachsen-Anhalt
District (Kreis) : Harz (until 2007 Quedlinburg)

Origin/meaning

Ballenstedt was originally a castle of a family who named themselves after the castle, Counts of Ballenstedt since 1030. Two separate cities were founded around the castle, which were merged in the 16^th century. The arms are based on the arms of the Counts of Ballenstedt. The original 12^th century arms showed three bars, but the bars were not broken. It may be that the broken bars represent the two different cities. The arms as such appear in the arms of the Counts of Anhalt-Ballenstedt in the middle of the 16^th century.

Seal from around 1900

The arms in the Kaffee Hag albums +/- 1925

Literature : Bensing, et al; Lexicon Städte und Wappen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Leipzig, 1985.