A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gleicher family of Germany.
Reg. 7322 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à cinq fusées accolées de sa., touchant les bords de l'écu. C.: un bonnet albanais de gu., retr. d'arg., ch. de cinq tourt. de sa., rangés en pal, le bout orné de trois pl. d'aut. de sa.”
GermanySchwäbisch-Hall Wurt, c. 1765
Where the Gleicher Arms Were Recorded
Schwäbisch-Hall
Map of Germany showing where the Gleicher arms are recorded
The Gleicher arms were recorded in Schwäbisch-Hall Wurt, 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 Gleicher 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 Gleicher Family in Germany
The surname Gleicher is rooted in the German language and historically functions as a descriptive occupational or status-based name. Derived from the Middle High German word *gelîch*, the name often referred to someone who was considered an equal or a peer within a local community, or perhaps someone who served as a mediator or an official representative. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family established a documented presence in the town of Schwäbisch Hall. This historic city in the Swabian region was a significant center for salt production and trade, which provided a stable environment for families to settle and build their livelihoods. As residents of this region, the early members of the Gleicher family were likely integrated into the local guild systems or agricultural networks that defined life in the Holy Roman Empire during the 1760s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
gleich
German adjective meaning equal, alike, or uniform.
This name
GleicherAn occupational or descriptive name for someone who was considered equal, fair, or consistent.
also spelled
Gleycher
Glaiker
Glicher
Related arms
Lechersimilar arms
Schneewassersimilar arms
Gleychervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Schwäbisch Hall, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Schwäbisch Hall
Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, Bestand E 151 (Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg)
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1972
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, 1957
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
