A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gerstman family of Germany.
Reg. 4419 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
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 la bande d'arg., ch. de trois têtes d'épis d'orge, chacune posée en pal. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, aux armes de l'écu (sur l'aile dextre la bande est transformée en barre.)”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Gerstman Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Gerstman arms are recorded
The Gerstman arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Gerstman 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Gerstman Family in Germany
The family name Gerstman traces its roots to the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. The name itself is likely occupational or topographic in origin, derived from the Middle High German word *Gerste*, which means barley. This suggests that early ancestors may have been farmers, grain merchants, or perhaps individuals who lived near fields of barley. During the mid-eighteenth century, Silesia was a vibrant area under Prussian control, and families like the Gerstmans were often part of the local artisan or agricultural classes that helped shape the regional economy. As the family grew, they moved through the changing political landscapes of Central Europe, carrying their name as a reflection of their deep connection to the land and their ancestral trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gerst
A Germanic term referring to barley or a grain crop.
This name
GerstmanAn occupational name for a person who grew, traded, or processed barley.
also spelled
Gerstman
Gerstmane
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Revisionslisten der schlesischen Städte
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Kuhlicke, Johannes, Die schlesische Bevölkerung im 18. Jahrhundert, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
