Map of Germany showing where the Dittman arms are recorded
The Dittman arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of arms.
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 Dittman 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Dittman Family in Germany
The family name Dittman originates from the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive surname derived from the Old High German name Dietmar. This name combines the elements "diet," meaning people or nation, and "mar," meaning famous or great. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the Franconia region of Germany. In 1765, records indicate that members of the Dittman family were integrated into the local social and economic fabric of this area. During this period, Franconia was a collection of diverse territories under the Holy Roman Empire, and families like the Dittmans often lived as farmers, craftsmen, or tradespeople who contributed to the stability of their local villages. As the name spread through the region, it evolved slightly in spelling, reflecting the local dialects and the common practice of recording names phonetically in church and civil registries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dietmar
Derived from Germanic elements meaning people and famous or great.
This name
DittmanA patronymic surname signifying a descendant of a man named Dietmar.
also spelled
Dietmann
Ditman
Dietmon
Deetman
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
Gottschald, Max. Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung. 1971
Staatsarchiv Bamberg. Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien im Hochstift Bamberg. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
