A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fire family of Germany.
Reg. 4215 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à un homme d'armes, arm. au nat., tenant de sa main dextre une grenade allumée et de sa sen. une branche de laurier; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à deux demi-vols adossés de sa. Sur le tout d'azur à un F d'or.”
Germanyc. 1702
Where the Fire Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Fire arms are recorded
The Fire arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1702.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Fire 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 Fire Family in Germany
The surname Fire traces its roots back to the mountainous regions of Bavaria, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1702. During this period, the name was likely linked to the occupational or environmental surroundings of the early settlers. In the German language, names often evolved from specific tasks, such as those performed by blacksmiths or charcoal burners who worked closely with fire to craft essential tools. As families moved through the rural villages of southern Germany, the name became a way to identify these individuals within their local communities. Over time, the name remained tied to the region, reflecting the hard work and industrial spirit of ancestors who lived during the early eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Fuer
Old High German term for fire or a hearth fire.
This name
FireAn occupational name for a person who worked with fire or a blacksmith.
also spelled
Foyer
Fire
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
knightChivalry and service in arms
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
knightChivalry and service in arms
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
