A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berberich family of Germany.
Reg. 6438 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
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)
“De gu. à une sirène à deux queues, de carn., posée de front, cour. d'or, les cheveux épars, tenant de chaque main un poisson, celui à dextre en barre et celui à sen. en bande. Cq. cour. C.: la sirène. L. d'or et de gu. [V. Vrints-Berberich.]”
Germanyc. 1630
Where the Berberich Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Berberich arms are recorded
The Berberich arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1630.
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.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Berberich 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 Berberich Family in Germany
The family name Berberich originates from the historical regions of southern Germany, specifically within the state of Bavaria. By the year 1630, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in these rural communities. The name itself is likely a topographic or occupational descriptor rooted in the Middle High German language, often associated with individuals who lived near specific geographic features or worked in local trades. During the seventeenth century, life for the Berberich family was defined by the agricultural rhythms of the Bavarian countryside and the social structures of the Holy Roman Empire. As the region navigated the challenges of the Thirty Years' War, families like the Berberichs maintained their presence through strong community ties and local parish involvement. This deep connection to the Bavarian landscape helped the name persist and spread throughout the region over the following centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bero
An ancient Germanic personal name derived from the word for bear.
This name
BerberichA topographic or habitational name referring to a dweller near a bear-inhabited mountain or ridge.
also spelled
Berberick
Berberych
Berberik
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
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
