A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gebhard family of Germany.
Reg. 4738 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 à un ange, hab. d'arg., ceint et cour. d'or, les ailes de gu. levées, ch. chacune d'une étoile d'or; tenant de chaque main un poisson courbé d'or en pal, celui à sen. cont. Cq. cour. C.: l'ange de l'écu. L.: à dextre d'or et d'azur, à sen. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1753
Where the Gebhard Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gebhard arms are recorded
The Gebhard arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1753.
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 Gebhard 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 Gebhard Family in Germany
The surname Gebhard is rooted in the Old High German language, originating from the given name Gebhard, which combines the words "geba," meaning gift, and "harti," meaning brave or strong. This name became popular across Germanic regions during the Middle Ages, often signifying a person who was a generous or courageous leader. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the Bavarian region of Germany. Records from 1753 confirm that members of the Gebhard family were active participants in the local social and economic life of these southern German lands. During this era, families with this name were typically integrated into the agricultural or artisan communities that defined the Bavarian landscape, contributing to the development of their local villages through trade and craftsmanship.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gebahard
Derived from the Germanic elements geba meaning gift and hard meaning brave.
This name
GebhardA name signifying a brave or hardy individual who is a gift to others.
also spelled
Gebhart
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen, 1903
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
cherubDivine protection over the innocent
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
