A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dema family of Germany.
Reg. 6550 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 un senestrochère, paré de gu., iss. d'une nuée d'azur mouv. du flanc, la main de carn. tenant une bague d'or, sommée d'une étoile du même; aux 2 et 3 d'or à un chicot au nat., posé en bande. Cq. cour. C.: le senestrochère, iss. de la couronne, en pal; entre un vol aux armes du 2 (sur l'aile dextre le chicot est posé en barre) L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Dema Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Dema arms are recorded
The Dema 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 Dema 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 Dema Family in Germany
The Dema family name has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Bavaria was a collection of territories governed by the Wittelsbach dynasty, and life for families like the Demas often revolved around local agriculture, trade, or skilled craftsmanship within small village communities. The name itself likely evolved from regional linguistic patterns common in Southern Germany, where surnames were often adapted from personal nicknames or specific geographic markers. As the family moved through the late 1700s, they were part of a society transitioning through the Enlightenment, experiencing significant changes in local administration and land management. By maintaining their presence in the Bavarian landscape, the early Dema family contributed to the long-standing cultural and social fabric of the region during a time of great historical transformation.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Demar
Derived from the Germanic personal name Theodmar meaning famous people.
This name
DemaA patronymic surname indicating descent from an ancestor named Theodmar or a variation.
also spelled
Demah
Demas
Demma
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
branchPeace, and new growth
