A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gummer family of Germany.
Reg. 4823 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de sa. à un griffon d'or, tenant de ses pattes une branche de houblon au nat.; le griffon du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à l'aigle de sa., celle du 3 cont. Cq. cour. C.: le griffon du 4, iss. L. d'or et de sa.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1688
Where the Gummer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Gummer arms are recorded
The Gummer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1688.
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.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
1658–1705
Reigning in Germany when the Gummer 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Gummer Family in Germany
The family name Gummer has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were living as early as 1688. During this period, the name likely emerged as a descriptive term or a nickname linked to the local dialect of the time. Families in this part of Germany often lived in small agricultural communities where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Because the region was shaped by the traditions of the Holy Roman Empire, the Gummer family would have been part of a tight-knit social structure defined by church records and local village life. Over the following centuries, the family name remained tied to the cultural landscape of southern Germany as these early ancestors helped build the foundations of their local towns and parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gundmar
Derived from Germanic elements meaning battle and famous or great.
This name
GummerA patronymic or occupational surname referring to a descendant of a famous warrior.
also spelled
Gummer zu Engelsburg und Hocheg
Gummer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
griffinValour and vigilance, guarding great treasure
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
