A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Geltman family of Germany.
Reg. 8461 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 un homme iss., hab. de sa., la main dextre étendue; au 2 d'arg. à une anille de sa. C.: l'homme, iss.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Geltman Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Geltman arms are recorded
The Geltman arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many 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 Geltman 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Geltman Family in Germany
The family name Geltman likely originates from the German word *Geld*, which refers to money or gold. In the context of medieval and early modern German naming conventions, this suggests that the name may have been an occupational descriptor for someone who worked as a money changer, a tax collector, or a merchant. By 1765, records confirm that the Geltman family was established in the Franconia region of Germany. During this period, Franconia was a diverse area composed of various small territories and cities, and families often settled in these regions to participate in the growing trade networks of the eighteenth century. As members of the family moved through these local economies, the name became a permanent marker of their identity and their historical connection to the professional life of the Franconian landscape.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Geld
Germanic term referring to money, payment, or tribute.
This name
GeltmanAn occupational surname for a tax collector, treasurer, or someone who handled financial transactions.
also spelled
Geltman
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Standesamtliche Unterlagen und Kirchenbücher der Region Franken, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
knightChivalry and service in arms
millrind / fer de molineThe mill's iron, and the grinding of grain
