A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cosman family of Germany.
Reg. 7050 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 une croix de Malte d'arg., posée en p., le bras supérieur ailé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une bande d'azur, ch. de deux étoiles d'or; entre un vol d'or. L. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Cosman arms are recorded
The Cosman 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 Cosman 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 Cosman Family in Germany
The surname Cosman is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Central Europe, where it evolved as a variation of the name Cosmas. This name originates from the Greek word meaning order or beauty, and it gained popularity across the continent due to the influence of early Christian saints. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region of Germany. In 1765, these individuals were typically integrated into the local agrarian or artisan communities that defined the social structure of the Holy Roman Empire. As members of these rural or town-based societies, the early Cosmans likely navigated the shifts in local governance and the agricultural demands of the Bavarian landscape. Their presence in official registers from this era suggests they were active participants in the economic and religious life of their parishes, helping to preserve the name as it passed down through subsequent generations.
Cosman Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Kosmas
Greek origin meaning order, organization, or beauty.
This name
CosmanA German patronymic surname derived from the given name Cosmas, signifying one who is orderly or well-organized.
also spelled
Kosman
Cozman
Cosmann
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
cross symbolChristian faith and service
cross symbolChristian faith and service
