A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biberstein family of Germany.
Reg. 0656 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à une demi-ramure de cerf de gu. C.: la demi-ramure.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Biberstein Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Biberstein arms are recorded
The Biberstein 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 Biberstein 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 Biberstein Family in Germany
The surname Biberstein originates from the German language and translates literally to "beaver stone." Historically, names like this were often topographical, meaning they described a specific location where a family lived or worked, such as a rocky area near a stream inhabited by beavers. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Biberstein family were established in the Bavarian region of Germany. During this period, families in rural Bavaria were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trades. As the family grew, they likely moved through the small villages and market towns of the region, contributing to the local economy and community life. Because the name is rooted in the physical landscape, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were deeply connected to the natural environment of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Biber and Stein
Beaver and stone or rock.
This name
BibersteinA topographic name referring to a rocky location inhabited by beavers.
also spelled
Byberstein
Bieberstein
Biberstine
Beaverstone
Related arms
Biswicksimilar arms
Biebersteinvariant spelling
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
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
