A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goldammer family of Germany.
Reg. 0738 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 coupé: a. de sin. à un cygne d'arg., iss. d'une couronne d'or, celui du 1 cont.; b. fascé d'or et de sin., de quatre pièces; aux 2 et 3 d'or au lion de sa., cour. du champ, celui du 3 cont. Sur le tout d'azur à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois roses de gu. Cq. cour. C.: un cygne iss. d'arg., entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sin., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Goldammer Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Goldammer arms are recorded
The Goldammer arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Goldammer 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Goldammer Family in Germany
The surname Goldammer is a descriptive German name that originates from the Middle High German word *goldamer*, which refers to the yellowhammer bird. In the context of early German naming customs, such names were often given as nicknames to individuals based on their physical appearance, their personality, or perhaps their profession. By the time ancestors of the family were documented in Saxony in 1765, the name had been established for generations as a way to identify specific households within local communities. During the eighteenth century, the region of Saxony was a hub of agricultural and artisanal activity, and families like the Goldammers were typically integrated into the rural social structure of the time. As record-keeping became more standardized by local churches and regional authorities, these families were firmly rooted in the landscape, often serving as farmers or tradespeople who contributed to the economic life of their villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Goldammer
Derived from the Middle High German word for the yellowhammer bird.
This name
GoldammerA topographic or nickname surname referring to the yellowhammer bird, likely denoting a bright or cheerful person.
also spelled
Goldamer
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
swanGrace, light and the poet's art
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
