A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Getman family of Germany.
Reg. 5895 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 avec ses petits d'or; au 2 d'arg. à la fasce de gu. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un homme iss. et cont., hab. d'azur, au rabat d'arg., cour. d'or, cette couronne fourrée d'un bonnet albanais d'azur, le bout orné de trois plumes de paon au nat.; tenant de sa main sen. une rose de gu., tigée et feuillée de sin.; l. d'or et d'azur; 2° un lion iss. d'or, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, empoignant de sa patte sen. la garde et de sa dextre la lame; l. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1731
Where the Getman Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Getman arms are recorded
The Getman arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1731.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Getman 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 Getman Family in Germany
The surname Getman originates from the Germanic regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive occupational name. In the dialects of the time, the name was closely linked to the term for a person who held a position of authority or served as a representative, such as a village headman or a leader of a local group. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the Bavarian region. Records from 1731 confirm that members of the Getman family were active participants in the social and agricultural life of these Bavarian communities. During this period, families often remained in the same geographic area for generations, working as skilled tradespeople or farmers. This stability allowed the family name to become a recognized part of the local history as they helped shape the development of their towns and villages before many later generations eventually migrated to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Godehard
Derived from the Germanic elements for god and hardy or brave.
This name
GetmanA habitational name for someone originating from the region of Ghent.
also spelled
Getman
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien, Steuer- und Katasterunterlagen, 1731
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
pelicanSelf-sacrifice and devotion to one's children
