Map of Germany showing where the Bilder arms are recorded
The Bilder 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 Bilder 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 Bilder Family in Germany
The family name Bilder originated in the southern German region of Bavaria, where it was firmly established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself likely evolved from occupational or descriptive roots common to the German language, often associated with individuals who worked as artisans or craftsmen. By 1765, records indicate that members of the Bilder family were active participants in the social and economic life of their Bavarian communities. During this era, families in the region were typically tied to the land or specific local trades, and the name would have been passed down through generations as these individuals contributed to the growth of their towns. As the family expanded, they became part of the historical fabric of rural Bavaria, living through a period of significant agricultural and cultural development in the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bild
An image, picture, or representation of a person or object.
This name
BilderA topographic or occupational name for someone who made or sold images or statues.
also spelled
Byldauer
Bildaur
Bildower
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), Kurbayern Hofkammer Buchhaltung
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), General-Landes-Archivalien
Bauer, Richard, Geschichte Münchens, 2003
Spindler, Max, Handbuch der bayerischen Geschichte, 1988
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
