Bielefeld probably got city rights in the early 13th 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 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.