A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Durman family of Germany.
Reg. 3918 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. plein; aux 2 et 3 taillé d'azur sur gu.; au 4 d'arg. à un homme iss., hab. de gu., coiffé d'un turban du même, tenant de sa main dextre un badelaire et de sa sen. une rondache. A la barre d'arg., br. sur les écartelures.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Durman Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Durman arms are recorded
The Durman 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 Durman 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 Durman Family in Germany
The Durman family name has deep roots in the historical region of Franconia, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1765. During the eighteenth century, Franconia was a diverse area characterized by a mix of small territories and independent cities, which influenced how families lived and worked. The name likely evolved from local linguistic traditions, reflecting the specific dialects spoken in the German lands at that time. Families in this region often identified themselves based on their trade, their specific village of origin, or personal characteristics that distinguished them within their community. By the mid-1700s, the Durman family was part of a stable agricultural or craft-based society that formed the backbone of the Franconian economy. As these individuals moved through the region, they carried their family name as a marker of their heritage and their connection to the local landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Turmann
A compound of the Germanic words for tower and man.
This name
DurmanA topographic or occupational name referring to a tower guard or dweller.
also spelled
Durman
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), General-Landes-Direktion, Kurbayern, Äußeres Archiv
Dudenredaktion, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen, 1971
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knightChivalry and service in arms
knightChivalry and service in arms
