A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bernauer family of Germany.
Reg. 9689 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à l'ours ramp. de sa. C.: l'ours. iss.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Bernauer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bernauer arms are recorded
The Bernauer 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 Bernauer 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 Bernauer Family in Germany
The surname Bernauer is a classic example of a topographic name, which was a common way for families to identify themselves in the German-speaking regions of Europe. The name is derived from the word "Bernau," a term used to describe a meadow or clearing near a stream, often associated with the presence of bears or simply a specific geographic location. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that families carrying this name were well-established in the Bavarian region. During this era, life in Bavaria was defined by agricultural traditions and close-knit village communities. Families like the Bernauers were typically tied to the land, working as farmers or skilled tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the Holy Roman Empire. As the family grew, they became a part of the social fabric of southern Germany, maintaining their identity through generations of rural life and regional trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bern
Derived from the Germanic word for bear.
This name
BernauerA habitational name for someone originating from a place named Bern or a dweller near a bear habitat.
also spelled
Bernower
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
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
bearStrength, cunning and protection of kin
