A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Feffer family of Germany.
Reg. 9497 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur au chev. ployé d'or, acc. en chef de deux étoiles du même et en p. d'une rose d'arg. C.: une rose d'arg., entre un vol coupé d'azur sur or, l'azur ch. d'une étoile d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanySpire, c. 1765
Where the Feffer Arms Were Recorded
Spire
Map of Germany showing where the Feffer arms are recorded
The Feffer arms were recorded in Spire, c. 1765.
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 Feffer 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Feffer Family in Germany
The surname Feffer is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as an occupational name. In Middle High German, the term *pfeffer* translates to pepper, suggesting that early ancestors may have been spice merchants or traders who dealt in valuable goods. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that members of the Feffer family were established in the city of Speyer, which was then a significant center within the Holy Roman Empire. Life in Speyer during the 1760s was shaped by the city’s recovery from earlier conflicts and its role as a hub for regional commerce. Families living in this area often maintained strong ties to local guilds and trade networks, which provided stability during a time of great social change. As these ancestors navigated the political landscape of the Rhineland, the name became a permanent fixture of their community identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Pfeffer
German word for the spice pepper.
This name
FefferAn occupational name for a merchant who traded in spices or pepper.
also spelled
Pfefer
Feffer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Landesarchiv Speyer, Bestand A 2: Reichskammergericht (Records of the Imperial Chamber Court)
Stadtarchiv Speyer, Bestand 1: Ratsprotokolle (City Council Protocols)
Breunig, Charles, The Age of Revolution and Reaction, 1789–1849, 1970
Kohl, Wilhelm, Die Stadt Speyer im 18. Jahrhundert, 1985
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
