A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bachmeier family of Germany.
Reg. 3242 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
foxWit and wisdom in defence
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 de sa. au renard ramp. d'arg.; au 2 de gu. au cerf ramp. d'arg.; au 3 d'arg. au rencontre de cerf, au nat.; au 4 de sa. au lion d'or, cour. du même. Sur le tout taillé d'arg. sur gu., à la rivière en barre d'arg., br. sur le taillé. C.: 1° le renard, iss. et cont.; l. d'or et de sa.; 2° le cerf, iss., entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre de sa. sur or, à sen. de gu. sur arg.; l. des deux derniers émaux.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Bachmeier arms are recorded
The Bachmeier arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Bachmeier 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 Bachmeier Family in Germany
The surname Bachmeier originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe and serves as a descriptive occupational name. It is composed of the words Bach, meaning a stream or brook, and Meier, which historically referred to a steward, a farm manager, or a tenant farmer who oversaw land for a landlord. Families carrying this name were often associated with small-scale agriculture or the management of rural estates located near water sources. By the mid-eighteenth century, the Bachmeier family had established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Bachmeiers were likely integrated into the city's complex social structure as skilled workers or merchants. The name reflects a long history of connection to both the land and the organized urban life that defined the German territories during the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bach and Meier
A brook or stream and a steward or tenant farmer.
This name
BachmeierRefers to a person who managed a farm located near a stream or brook.
also spelled
Bachmeier
Bahkmyer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher und Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Reichsstadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.