A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ahmann family of Germany.
Reg. 1283 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
lionCourage, strength and royalty
bullValour and generosity
parrotEloquence, and travel in distant lands
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 tiercé en fasce: a. d'or au perroquet de sin., coll. de gu.; b. parti d'arg. et de gu., à la fleur-de-lis de l'un en l'autre; c. de sa. à la roue d'arg.; au 2 coupé: a. de sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même; b. d'or au boeuf arrêté de sa. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° une jeune fille iss., hab. de sa., les cheveux épars, tort. d'arg., les bras étendus, tenant de sa main dextre un flambeau allumé au nat. et supp. de sa sen. un encensoir d'or, fumant au nat.; 2° le lion, iss., tenant une banderole coupée d'arg. sur gu., ch. d'une croisette de l'un en l'autre. L. de sa. et d'or. --- (Chevaliers, 15 mai 1741.) Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même, celui du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 parti d'arg. et de gu., à la fleur-de-lis de l'un en l'autre. Sur le tout d'or à une aigle ép. de sa., acc. d'une couronne entre les deux têtes, ch. sur son estomac d'un écusson fuselé en bande d'azur et d'arg. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion du 1, iss., tenant un guidon coupé d'arg. sur gu., ch. d'une croisette pattée”
GermanyAugsbourg, c. 1539
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Map of Germany showing where the Ahmann arms are recorded
The Ahmann arms were recorded in Augsbourg, c. 1539.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Charles V
Sovereign of the period
Charles V
1519–1556
Reigning in Germany when the Ahmann arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Ahmann Family in Germany
The surname Ahmann is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with records confirming the family’s presence in the city of Augsburg as early as 1539. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational or social title, derived from the Middle High German word "ah," which refers to a paternal ancestor or a respected elder. During the sixteenth century, Augsburg was a major center for international trade and finance, placing the Ahmann family at the heart of a rapidly evolving urban society. As the city grew into a hub for the Renaissance, individuals bearing this name were often integrated into the local merchant class or skilled craft guilds. Over time, the name evolved from a simple identifier of lineage into a stable family surname that persisted through generations of social and economic change in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ahm
A short form of the Germanic name Adam meaning earth or man.
This name
AhmannA patronymic surname derived from the name Adam, signifying son of Adam.
also spelled
Aman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bauer, Hermann. Augsburger Stadtgeschichte. 1978
Stadtarchiv Augsburg. Bürgerbuch der Stadt Augsburg. 1539
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