A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geismar family of Germany.
Reg. 7239 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à l'aigle naiss. de sa., mouv. du coupé; au 2 de gu. à une roue d'arg. C.: la roue, entre deux pl. d'aut. de sa. L.: de gu. et de sa.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Geismar Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Geismar arms are recorded
The Geismar arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Geismar 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Geismar Family in Germany
The family name Geismar is a toponymic surname, meaning it originated from a specific geographic location. The name is derived from the village of Geismar, which is located in the region of Hesse in Germany. During the medieval period, it was common for individuals to adopt the name of their home village as a way to identify themselves when they moved to new areas. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family had established a significant presence in the Westphalia region. This migration was likely driven by the search for new economic opportunities or changes in local land ownership during the eighteenth century. As the family settled into Westphalian life, they integrated into the local agricultural and merchant communities while maintaining the name that linked them to their ancestral roots in Hesse.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Geis-mar
Derived from the Old High German words for goat and marshland.
This name
GeismarA topographic name referring to a marshy area where goats were kept.
also spelled
Geysmar
Geismer
Giesmar
Gismar
Gismer
Related arms
Götzesimilar arms
Meyern de Hobenbergsimilar arms
Uhdesimilar arms
Geissmarvariant spelling
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wheelFortune's turning, and the carter's trade
