A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Beyersdorf family of Germany.
Reg. 0603 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à la demi-aigle de gu., mouv. du parti; au 2 coticé d'arg. et de gu. de dix pièces. C.: un panache de plumes de coq de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Beyersdorf Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Beyersdorf arms are recorded
The Beyersdorf arms were recorded in Germany, 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 Beyersdorf 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 Beyersdorf Family in Germany
The family name Beyersdorf is a locational surname that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is composed of two distinct parts, with the first element referring to the region of Bavaria and the second element meaning a village or a settlement. This naming pattern suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely identified by their home village or their migration from the Bavarian lands. By the year 1765, historical records confirm that the family was well-established within Bavaria, where they lived as part of the local agrarian society. During this period, families often took the name of their home territory to distinguish themselves from others in growing communities. As the family members moved across different districts, the name served as a permanent link to their ancestral roots in the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Beier + Dorf
A person from Bavaria and a small village or settlement.
This name
BeyersdorfRefers to a village or farmstead originally established by a settler from the Bavarian region.
also spelled
Beiersdorf
Beyersdorff
Beiersdorff
Bayersdorf
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