A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ferster family of Germany.
Reg. 5512 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'or à un jeune homme iss. par les genoux, posé de face, hab. de sa., au rabat d'or, bout. et ceint du même, tenant une flèche d'arg. en pal, la pointe en bas; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un rocher d'arg., sommé d'un faucon au nat., le vol ouv. Cq. cour. C.: le jeune homme iss. L. à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1745
Where the Ferster Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Ferster arms are recorded
The Ferster arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Ferster 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 Ferster Family in Germany
The family name Ferster is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in Bavaria by 1745. The name is occupational in origin, derived from the Middle High German word "förster," which translates to forester or gamekeeper. During the eighteenth century, individuals carrying this name were often responsible for the management and protection of woodlands owned by local nobility or the church. This role required a deep knowledge of the land and a high level of trust, as these officials acted as the primary guardians of valuable timber and wildlife resources. As the family established itself in the Bavarian countryside, they became integrated into the rural social structure, often living in proximity to the forests they were tasked to oversee. This connection to the land defined their early identity and social standing within their local communities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Förster
A person who manages or protects a forest.
This name
FersterAn occupational surname for a forest warden or gamekeeper.
also spelled
Ferstar
Verster
Foster
Related arms
Verstervariant spelling
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
