A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bombard family of Germany.
Reg. 9234 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bombOne who has faced a great siege
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'azur, chapé-ployé d'arg.; à trois bombes de sa, allumées de gu., posés 2 sur l'arg. et 1 sur l'azur. C.: une bombe de l'écu, entre deux prob. coupées, celle à dextre d'arg. sur azur, celle à sen. de sa. sur arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur [Dans le diplôme de 1878 les deux prob. sont d'arg. plein, et les lambrequins des deux côtés d'arg. et d'azur.]”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1837
Where the Bombard Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Bombard arms are recorded
The Bombard arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1837.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Bombard arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Bombard Family in Germany
The surname Bombard is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with documented evidence placing the family in the Bavarian region by the early nineteenth century. The name itself is linguistically connected to the Middle High German term *bumbart*, which originally referred to a type of early heavy artillery or a loud, booming musical instrument. It is likely that the name began as a descriptive nickname for an ancestor who possessed a booming voice, a loud personality, or perhaps a profession involving early mechanical devices. By 1837, members of the Bombard family were established members of the Bavarian community, living during a time of significant social and political transition in the Kingdom of Bavaria. As the family grew and moved through these changing landscapes, they maintained their identity as part of the industrious middle class that helped shape the local culture of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bombardus
A medieval term for a loud, thunderous engine or cannon.
This name
BombardAn occupational name for a soldier who operated a heavy siege cannon.
also spelled
Bombart
Bombarde
Bombardi
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Königlich Bayerische Regierungsakten, Kreis Unterfranken
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bombOne who has faced a great siege
bombOne who has faced a great siege
