A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bürkhamer family of Germany.
Reg. 4751 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à trois los. d'arg., aboutées en bande. C.: un cygne d'arg., le vol levé.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Bürkhamer Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Bürkhamer arms are recorded
The Bürkhamer arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Bürkhamer 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 Bürkhamer Family in Germany
The family name Bürkhamer is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with documented evidence placing the family in the imperial city of Nuremberg by 1765. The name itself likely originated as a topographical identifier, as the suffix "hamer" often referred to a person living near a specific type of settlement or a workshop, such as a hammer mill or a metalworking site. Given Nuremberg’s reputation during the eighteenth century as a major center for skilled craftsmanship and metalwork, it is probable that early ancestors were involved in the city’s thriving trade guilds. These families were often part of the urban middle class, contributing to the economic stability of the region through their specialized labor. By establishing themselves in a bustling trade hub like Nuremberg, the Bürkhamers became part of a long tradition of artisans who helped define the industrial identity of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg-Heim
A fortified settlement or castle home.
This name
BürkhamerRefers to a person who lived near or worked at a fortified castle or manor.
also spelled
Buerkhamer
Burkhammer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Reichsstadt Nürnberg (1765)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt (1967)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
