A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerbert family of Germany.
Reg. 0226 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un bélier naiss. d'arg., broutant une branche d'arg. qu'il tient de ses pattes et qui lui passe sous le corps en fasce; ladite branche portant à son extrémité supérieure trois feuilles de sin. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Gerbert Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gerbert arms are recorded
The Gerbert 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 Gerbert 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 Gerbert Family in Germany
The family name Gerbert finds its roots in the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it originated as a compound name derived from the Old High German words for spear and bright. This combination suggests that the name was historically associated with strength and prominence in early medieval society. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family established a documented presence in Bavaria, a region known for its complex social structures and agricultural traditions. During this period, families living in Bavarian villages were often tied to the land and local parish administration, which helped preserve records of their daily lives. The migration and settlement patterns of the Gerbert family during the 1760s reflect the broader movement of people across the Holy Roman Empire as they sought stability and opportunities in the fertile lands of Southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerberht
Derived from Germanic elements meaning spear and bright or famous.
This name
GerbertA name signifying a bright or illustrious spear warrior.
also spelled
Gerbert d'Hornau
Gerber de horno
Gerbert
Hornau
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
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