A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gildemeister family of Germany.
Reg. 4978 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à trois trèfles de sin. à tiges allongées, qui se réunissent dans un tertre de trois coupeaux du sec. C.: les trèfles; entre deux prob. coupées, d'arg. sur sin. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyBrême, c. 1765
Where the Gildemeister Arms Were Recorded
Brême
Map of Germany showing where the Gildemeister arms are recorded
The Gildemeister arms were recorded in Brême, 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 Gildemeister 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 Gildemeister Family in Germany
The Gildemeister family name traces its roots to the historic city of Bremen, where members of the family became prominent figures in the eighteenth century. The name itself is derived from the German word Gildemeister, which historically referred to the head or leader of a guild. During the medieval period, guilds were powerful organizations that controlled trade and craftsmanship within German cities. By the time the family was firmly established in Bremen in 1765, they were already deeply integrated into the city’s merchant class and civic leadership. Over the following generations, the family played a significant role in the political and economic life of the region, often serving in important administrative positions that helped shape the development of the city. Their early history reflects the transition of a family from trade-based leadership roles into the influential upper echelons of urban society.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gilde + Meister
Guild or association and master or craftsman.
This name
GildemeisterRefers to a master craftsman who held a leadership position within a medieval trade guild.
also spelled
Gildemeester
Gildemester
Gildemister
Related arms
Gildemeestervariant spelling
Estorffrecorded with Gildemeister, same area
Roderecorded with Gildemeister, same area
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bremisches Jahrbuch, Die Gildemeister: Eine bremische Familie, 1925
Staatsarchiv Bremen, Bestand 7.100 (Familienarchive)
Hermann Entholt, Die Gildemeister: Geschichte einer bremischen Familie, 1930
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
