A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Biedermann family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'or à une marque de marchand de sa. en forme de deux 4, l'un”
The Biedermann arms were recorded in Winterthür Zurich, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
The surname Biedermann is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it functioned originally as a descriptive term for a person of honorable character. In the local dialect, the name combines the word "bieder," meaning upright or respectable, with "mann," meaning man. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Winterthur. Records from 1745 confirm that members of the Biedermann family were active participants in the civic and social life of this growing industrial center. During this era, families with this name were often integrated into the local guilds and merchant classes, which allowed them to contribute significantly to the economic development of the Zurich region. Their early history reflects the broader patterns of Swiss urban growth, as families moved into cities to pursue trade, craftsmanship, and local governance.
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with graceJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Parti de sa. et d'arg.; à deux roses de l'un à l'autre. C.: un buste d'homme, hab. d'un parti de sa. et d'arg., ch. d'une rose de l'un en l'autre.”
The Biedermann arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Reigning in Switzerland when the Biedermann arms are first recorded.
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.
The surname Biedermann originates from the Middle High German word "biderbe," which translates to honest, upright, or virtuous. During the medieval period, this name functioned as a descriptive nickname for a person of high moral character or a reliable neighbor within a community. By the time the family was firmly established in the region of Saxony by 1765, the name had transitioned from a simple descriptor into a formal hereditary surname. In the social structure of eighteenth-century Saxony, families bearing this name were often associated with the rising middle class, including skilled tradespeople, local administrators, and farmers. The prevalence of the name in this area suggests that the Biedermanns were well-integrated into the local German culture, contributing to the agricultural and civic life of the Saxon landscape long before the modern era.
Upright, honest, or respectable in character.
