A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Barner family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2109 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à un senestrochère, arm. au nat., la main gantée d'or tenant une chandelle allumée du même. C.: une grenade allumée, entre trois pennons de gu. à la croix d'arg., dont deux flottant à sen. [Quelques branches de cette famille ont remplacé la grenade par une roue de gu. ou par une queue de paon.]”
GermanyDan, c. 1765
Where the Barner Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Barner arms are recorded
The Barner arms were recorded in Dan, c. 1765.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit in the registers.
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 Barner 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 Barner Family in Germany
The family name Barner has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive surname. In the German language, the name is closely linked to the word "Barn," which historically referred to a storage building for grain or a threshing floor. This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely farmers or estate managers who lived near or worked within these structures. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a clear presence in the region of Bavaria. Records from 1765 confirm that individuals bearing this name were integrated into the local Bavarian community, likely participating in the agricultural and social life of the rural landscape. Over time, as families moved between villages and towns, the name became a permanent marker of their heritage and their ancestral connection to the land.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per pale ar. and az. a fesse counterchanged”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Barner Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Barner arms are recorded
The Barner arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in Germany when the Barner arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Barner Family in England
The name Barner has roots that stretch back to the northern regions of England, where families bearing this surname were established in the city of York by the early seventeenth century. During the year 1620, the name appeared in local records, suggesting that these individuals were part of the growing urban population during the late Elizabethan and early Stuart eras. The name itself is thought to be an occupational or locational descriptor, likely evolving from Old English or Germanic roots that referred to someone who worked in a barn or lived near a granary. As York was a major center for trade and agriculture, families like the Barners were often involved in the local economy, helping to sustain the city through the storage and distribution of grain. By the time they were documented in 1620, the family had already become a part of the long-standing social fabric of Yorkshire, living through a period of significant religious and political change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
A Germanic word meaning bear.
This name
BarnerA topographic name for someone living near a barn or a professional name for a barn keeper.
also spelled
Barnerr
Barnere
Barnar
Barnare
Barnerre
Related arms
Ahnenrecorded with Barner, same area
Brandrecorded with Barner, same area
Buchwaldrecorded with Barner, same area
Cramonrecorded with Barner, same area
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
cross symbolChristian faith and service
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
