A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Diener family of Germany.
Reg. 2956 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 sa. à deux los. accostées d'arg. C.: un écran hexagone, aux armes de l'écu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1420
Where the Diener Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Diener arms are recorded
The Diener arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1420.
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.
Sigismund
Sovereign of the period
Sigismund
1411–1437
Reigning in Germany when the Diener 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Diener Family in Germany
The surname Diener originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe as an occupational name. In the Middle Ages, the word referred to a servant, a helper, or a person who provided essential services to a household or a local official. By 1420, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Bavarian region. During this period, the name likely identified individuals who held specific roles within the administrative or domestic structures of growing towns. As society became more complex, these families often transitioned from general service roles into skilled trades or local governance. This evolution allowed the Diener name to spread across southern Germany as families moved to find work or manage land. Because the name was tied to a common occupation, it appeared independently in various locations, reflecting the social hierarchy of the fifteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
dienen
To serve or to perform a service for another person.
This name
DienerAn occupational surname for a servant or someone who performed duties for a master.
also spelled
Deener
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Urkunden und Amtsbücher des Herzogtums Bayern, 1420
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
