A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Folkman family of Germany.
Reg. 6424 · 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
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“D'arg. à un homme iss., hab. d'azur, tenant de sa main dextre un arc et de sa sen. une flèche, le tout aussi d'azur, et mouv. d'un tertre de sin. C.: l'homme, iss.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Folkman Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Folkman arms are recorded
The Folkman arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Folkman 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 Folkman Family in Germany
The surname Folkman is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, where it functions as a descriptive name derived from the Old High German words for people and man. Historically, this name likely identified an individual who held a position of service or leadership within a local community or village. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, the social structure of southern Germany was heavily influenced by agrarian life and strict local governance. Families like the Folkmans often lived in small, tight-knit rural settlements where their surname served to distinguish them from other households in the parish. As the eighteenth century progressed, these families became deeply integrated into the local economy, often working as skilled craftsmen or farmers who contributed to the stability of the Bavarian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Volk
Germanic term referring to the people or the common folk.
This name
FolkmanA patronymic or occupational name denoting a person belonging to the common people.
also spelled
Volkman
Folckmann
Folkman
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien, Steuer- und Katasterunterlagen, 1765
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
