A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garber family of Germany.
Reg. 1436 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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. de sa., acc. en chef de deux étoiles d'or et en p. d'une gerbe du même. Cq. cour. C.: la gerbe, entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. d'une fasce d'azur, surch. d'une étoile d'or.”
GermanyAugsbourg, c. 1765
Where the Garber Arms Were Recorded
Augsbourg
Map of Germany showing where the Garber arms are recorded
The Garber arms were recorded in Augsbourg, 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 Garber 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 Garber Family in Germany
The surname Garber is rooted in the German language and historically functioned as an occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "garwer," which translates to a tanner or someone who prepares animal hides for leather production. By the mid-18th century, the family was well-established in the city of Augsburg, which served as a major center for trade and craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, individuals with this name were often integrated into the city’s guild systems, which regulated the quality of leather goods and provided a structured social framework for families. As members of a skilled trade, the Garbers were part of the vital urban middle class that helped sustain the local economy through their specialized labor and technical expertise.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garwer
Middle High German term for a tanner or leather worker.
This name
GarberAn occupational surname for someone who tanned animal hides into leather.
also spelled
Garbes
Garber
Garbay
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
Stadtarchiv Augsburg. Zunftakten der Gerber (Tanners' Guild Records). 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.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
