A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feder family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 7371 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
branchPeace, and new growth
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti, d'azur à un tronc de laurier au nat. poussant à dextre une branche de sin., et d'arg. au pélican dans son aire, de sa.; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin., br. sur le parti. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un homme iss. et cont., hab. d'azur, coiffé d'un bonnet du même, ceint de sa., tenant de sa main sen. un rameau de laurier de sin.; l. d'arg. et d'azur; 2° le pélican dans son aire; l. d'arg. et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1797
Where the Feder Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Feder arms are recorded
The Feder arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1797.
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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Feder 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 Feder Family in Germany
The surname Feder has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it emerged as a descriptive name during the Middle Ages. In the German language, the word *Feder* translates to feather or quill, suggesting that the original bearers of the name may have been skilled scribes, clerks, or perhaps traders who dealt in writing supplies. By the late 18th century, the family was well-established in the region of Bavaria. Historical records confirm their presence there by 1797, a time when the area was undergoing significant social and political changes. During this period, families like the Feders were often tied to the local agricultural or craft-based economy of southern Germany. As the name spread through various towns and villages, it became a permanent fixture of the Bavarian landscape, reflecting the professional and cultural identity of those who carried it through generations.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
knightChivalry and service in arms
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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 de gu. au chev. d'arg.; au 2 d'azur à une grue d'arg. avec sa vigilance, sur une terrasse de sin.; au 3 d'or à un vieillard iss., mouv. du bas, hab. de sa., rebr. d'or, au rabat du même, coiffé d'un chapeau de sa., retr. d'or, tenant de sa main sen. un compas ouvert, les pointes en haut, et de sa dextre, appuyée sur sa hanche, un rouleau de papier; au 4 d'or à une rivière au nat., en fasce ondée. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º un pelican d'arg., entre un vol de gu., chaque aile ch. d'un chev. d'arg.; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2º l'homme du 3 iss., sauf qu'il tient le compas de sa main dextre et le rouleau de papier de sa sen.; l. d'or et d'azur.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1883
Where the Feder Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Feder arms are recorded
The Feder arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1883.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried 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.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1883
Granting Authority for the Feder Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Sovereign of the period
Franz Joseph I of Austria
1848–1916
Reigning in Germany when the Feder arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Feder Family in Austria
The surname Feder has deep roots in the mountainous landscape of the Austrian Tyrol, where families bearing this name were established well before the late nineteenth century. The name itself is derived from the Middle High German word for a feather, which often served as a descriptive nickname for a person who was light on their feet or perhaps someone who worked as a quill maker. In the rugged terrain of the Alps, families like the Feders were frequently involved in local agriculture, trade, or the skilled crafts necessary to sustain mountain village life. By the time records confirm their presence in Tyrol in 1883, the family had likely spent generations integrating into the social and economic fabric of the region. These early ancestors lived through a time of significant transition in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where local identity was closely tied to the specific valleys and parishes where their families had settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Feder
Middle High German word for a feather or quill.
This name
FederAn occupational name for a fletcher, a quill maker, or a writer.
also spelled
Fedar
Fader
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
branchPeace, and new growth
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
branchPeace, and new growth
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
knightChivalry and service in arms
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
