Map of Germany showing where the Dammeyer arms are recorded
The Dammeyer 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 Dammeyer 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 Dammeyer Family in Germany
The Dammeyer family name is rooted in the geography of northern and central Germany, functioning as a descriptive surname for people who lived near a dam or a dike. The term "Damm" refers to a barrier built to hold back water, while the suffix "meyer" historically identified a steward or a tenant farmer who managed land for a local lord. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. During this era, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Dammeyers often integrated into the city’s professional guilds. Their presence in such a prominent urban hub suggests that early members of the family were likely skilled tradespeople or merchants who contributed to the economic life of the region. Over time, the name became a permanent marker of their ancestral connection to both the landscape and the structured society of German city-states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dam
A low-lying area of land or a dammed water source.
This name
DammeyerA person who lived near a dam or a low-lying meadow.
also spelled
Domeier
Domayer
Domey
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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Reichsstadt Nürnberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
