A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Berghammer family of Germany.
Reg. 5869 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur au griffon d'or, ramp. contre un rocher d'arg., mouv. du flanc dextre, et tenant de ses pattes un marteau d'or, en pal. C.: le griffon iss., tenant de sa patte dextre le marteau et de sa sen. un morceau de rocher. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Berghammer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Berghammer arms are recorded
The Berghammer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Berghammer 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Berghammer Family in Germany
The surname Berghammer is a classic example of a topographic name rooted in the geography of southern Germany. The name is composed of the German words "Berg," meaning mountain or hill, and "Hammer," which historically referred to a forge or a metalworking mill powered by water. Families bearing this name likely originated from individuals who lived near or operated a mountain-based forge during the medieval period. By 1765, records confirm that the Berghammer family was well-established within the Bavarian region, where the rugged landscape provided the necessary water power and natural resources for their trade. As metalworking was a vital industry in the Bavarian Alps, these families often held a respected position in their local village economies. Over generations, the name transitioned from a description of a person's workplace to a permanent family identifier that linked their identity to the industrial history of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Berg and Hammer
Mountain or hill and a tool for striking or shaping metal.
This name
BerghammerAn occupational name for someone who worked as a smith in a mountainous region.
also spelled
Berghammerh
Berghammere
Berghamer
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kurbayern Hofkammer: Steuer- und Katasterwesen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
