A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Goldberger family of Germany.
Reg. 9542 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 d'or à la demi-aigle de sa., bq. et m. de gu., mouv. du parti; au 2 coupé: a. d'arg. à un demi-vol de sa.; b. d'azur à deux marteaux d'arg., emm. de gu., passés en saut. C.: le demi-vol, ch. des marteaux. L.: à dextre d'or et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
HesseHesse, c. 1765
Where the Goldberger Arms Were Recorded
Hesse
Map of Germany showing where the Goldberger arms are recorded
The Goldberger arms were recorded in Hesse, c. 1765.
Hesse was central German country, divided among a large number of small landowners and prosperous towns. So many separate households held ground there that the region produced an unusual number of coats of arms.
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 Goldberger 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 Hesse.
Origin & History of the Goldberger Family in Germany
The surname Goldberger is a topographical name that originated in German-speaking regions, likely describing a family that lived near a hill or mountain associated with gold mining or a golden appearance. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Goldberger family were firmly established in the state of Hesse. During this period, families in Hesse often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities where they worked as farmers, craftsmen, or local merchants. As the eighteenth century progressed, the family name became more fixed in official civil and religious registries, reflecting the growing importance of tracking lineage for tax and military purposes. This transition from loose identification to formal record-keeping allows us to trace the family's presence in the Hessian landscape during a time of significant social and economic change in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gold and Berg
Precious yellow metal and a mountain or hill.
This name
GoldbergerA topographic name for someone who lived near a gold-bearing mountain or a mountain named Gold.
Related arms
Dennemarksimilar arms
Frascadasimilar arms
Quellenitzsimilar arms
Sturanisimilar arms
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
Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg, Bestand 310: Kurhessische Zivilstandsregister, 1765
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
hammerHonest labour, and the smith's craft
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
