A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gessner family of Germany.
Reg. 6308 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à un pélican d'arg. dans son aire, avec sa piété de gu.; au 2 d'arg. à trois barres d'azur, ch. chacune de trois bes. du champ. C.: un vol aux armes du 2 (sur l'aile dextre les barres sont transformées en bandes.)”
GermanyRothenburg, c. 1765
Where the Gessner Arms Were Recorded
Rothenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Gessner arms are recorded
The Gessner arms were recorded in Rothenburg, c. 1765.
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 Gessner 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 Gessner Family in Germany
The surname Gessner is a German occupational name that originated during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "gesene," which referred to a person who worked as a harvester or a mower of grass. By the time the family was firmly established in the historic town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 1765, the name had been passed down through several generations as a fixed surname. During this era, families in the region were often tied to the local agricultural economy or specialized trades that supported the bustling town life. As members of the community in Rothenburg, the Gessners were part of a society that relied on meticulous record-keeping in parish registers and town ledgers to track births, marriages, and property ownership. This transition from a descriptive job title to a permanent family name reflects the way common people in the Holy Roman Empire began to organize their identities as towns grew and populations became more settled.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gesso
A Germanic term referring to a plaster or gypsum-based material.
This name
GessnerAn occupational name for a worker who applied plaster or worked with gypsum.
also spelled
Gesner
Gezzner
Gessener
Related arms
Gesnervariant 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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Stadtarchiv Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Kirchenbücher der Stadtpfarrei St. Jakob, 1765
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
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
