A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gebauer family of Germany.
Reg. 5785 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Taillé, de gu. à un cheval naiss. d'arg., mouv. du taillé, sur azur plein; à la barre d'arg., br. sur le tout.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gebauer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gebauer arms are recorded
The Gebauer arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Gebauer 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 Gebauer Family in Germany
The surname Gebauer is a classic occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "gebure," which originally referred to a farmer or a peasant who worked the land. Over time, the name became a way to identify individuals based on their role in the rural community. By the year 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, the Gebauer family likely lived in small agricultural villages where they contributed to the local economy through farming and trade. As the family grew, members moved across different parts of the Bavarian countryside, carrying the name with them and weaving it into the social fabric of their local parishes and towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gau
A district, region, or administrative territory in medieval Germany.
This name
GebauerA peasant or farmer who works land within a specific administrative district.
also spelled
Gebaur
Gebower
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
horseReadiness to serve king and country
horseReadiness to serve king and country
