A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burger family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 1156 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à la licorne ramp. de sa.; aux 2 et 3 barré de sa. et d'or, de quatre pièces. Cq. cour. C.: deux prob., celle à dextre bandée de sa. et d'or et celle à sen. barrée des mêmes émaux.”
Germanyc. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Burger arms are recorded
The Burger 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 Burger 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 Burger Family in Germany
The surname Burger is a classic example of a topographic or occupational name that emerged during the Middle Ages in German-speaking lands. In the German language, the word *Bürger* refers to a citizen or a person who lived within the walls of a fortified town. As towns grew in importance across the Holy Roman Empire, individuals who held the rights and responsibilities of town residency began to use this term to distinguish themselves from those living in the countryside. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had been established for centuries as a way to identify families who were integrated into the social and economic life of their local municipalities. These early family members were likely part of the growing middle class of tradespeople, artisans, or merchants who helped shape the development of Bavarian towns during the eighteenth century.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à la tour d'arg., ouv. et aj. de sa., sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin. C.: les meubles de l'écu, entre deux prob. coupées d'azur sur arg.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Burger arms are recorded
The Burger arms were recorded in Bâle, 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.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
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.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Burger Family in Switzerland
The surname Burger is deeply rooted in the history of the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it functioned as a status-based occupational name. In the Swiss social structure, a *Burger* was originally a citizen of a town who held specific legal rights and responsibilities within the community. By the time members of the family were documented in Basel in 1745, the name had transitioned from a general description of a town dweller into a formal hereditary surname. Families bearing this name were often integrated into the local guild systems, which controlled trade and political life in Swiss cities. Because Basel served as a major crossroads for commerce and migration, the Burger family likely participated in the urban development that defined the region during the eighteenth century. Their presence in the city records reflects the broader movement of families who sought to establish themselves as permanent, tax-paying citizens within the structured environment of the Swiss cantons.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à deux banderoles de gu., attachées à des hampes de bois, passées en saut.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une mer agitée en p., de laquelle s'élève le phare de Trieste, sommé d'une banderole de gu. attachée à une hampe de bois en bande, et au-dessous de la banderole une verge en fasce à laquelle sont suspendus, au moyen de cordes, trois ballons de gu. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° les banderoles du 1; l. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° les meubles du 2, moins la mer; l. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux griffons d'or.”
Austriac. 1772
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Austria showing where the Burger arms are recorded
The Burger arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Burger Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Burger arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Burger Family in Austria
The surname Burger is a classic example of a topographic name, which means it was originally used to describe where a person lived or what their role was in the community. In the German language, the word *Burg* refers to a fortified town or a castle. Consequently, the name was historically given to individuals who lived within the walls of a city or held the status of a citizen. By the time records place the family in the Tyrol region of Austria in 1772, the name had become well-established among the local population. During this period, the Tyrolean landscape was defined by rugged mountain valleys and isolated settlements. Families with this name often served as essential members of these tight-knit alpine communities, working as tradespeople or farmers who helped maintain the local economy. Because the name was tied to the concept of town residency, it reflects a history of people who were settled, organized, and deeply connected to the development of Austrian civic life.
Burger Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Burg
A fortified place, castle, or walled town.
This name
BurgerAn occupational name for someone who lived in or guarded a fortified town.
also spelled
Buerger
Burgher
Birger
Berger
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
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
unicornPurity, and extreme courage in defence of honour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
flag / pennantA command held, and a following kept
