A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gehr family of Germany.
Reg. 0409 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur au chev. ployé d'or, acc. en p. d'une étoile d'arg. C.: une étoile d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
HesseHesse, c. 1765
Where the Gehr Arms Were Recorded
Hesse
Map of Germany showing where the Gehr arms are recorded
The Gehr arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1765.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of coats of arms.
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 Gehr 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 Hesse.
Origin & History of the Gehr Family in Germany
The surname Gehr is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical documentation confirming the presence of the family in the state of Hesse by 1765. The name is generally categorized as a topographic or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "ger," which refers to a spear or a triangular piece of land. Families bearing this name were often associated with agricultural life or local craftsmanship in the rural villages of central Germany. During the eighteenth century, the people of Hesse lived in a society defined by small farming communities and local trade guilds. As the family grew, members likely moved between neighboring parishes to find work or land, helping to spread the name across the region. This history reflects the broader patterns of migration and social development that shaped the lives of families in the Holy Roman Empire during the late eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ger
An ancient Germanic term referring to a spear or lance.
This name
GehrA topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near or worked with spear-shaped enclosures.
also spelled
Gehrene
Gehrenn
Gehr
Geren
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
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Hessen, 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
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
