A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dessauer family of Germany.
Reg. 2871 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à une ancre sans trabe, d'or, posée en barre, acc. de deux étoiles du même, l'une en chef à dextre et l'autre en p. à sen. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux d'azur.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1837
Where the Dessauer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Dessauer arms are recorded
The Dessauer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1837.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Dessauer arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Dessauer Family in Germany
The surname Dessauer is a toponymic name, meaning it was originally derived from a specific geographic location. Families who carried this name typically traced their origins to the town of Dessau, which is located in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, members of the family migrated across German-speaking lands, eventually establishing a documented presence in the region of Bavaria by 1837. As people moved away from their ancestral home, they often adopted the name of their city of origin to distinguish themselves in new communities. This practice was common among families who traveled for trade or professional opportunities. By the time the family settled in Bavaria, the name served as a permanent link to their historical roots in central Germany while they integrated into the social and economic life of their new southern home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dessau
A town located at the confluence of the Mulde and Elbe rivers.
This name
DessauerA habitational name for someone who originated from the city of Dessau in Germany.
also spelled
Desauer
Desower
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Regierungsakten der Kreise, 1837
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
