A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Leiber family of Germany.
Reg. 8558 · German, J–L
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à la fasce de gu., côtoyée de deux branches de chêne feuillées de trois pièces et englantées de trois pièces, au nat., posées en fasces et dirigées vers sen. C.: trois pl. d'aut., une de gu. entre deux d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1872
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Map of Germany showing where the Leiber arms are recorded
The Leiber arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1872.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Wilhelm I
Sovereign of the period
Wilhelm I
1861–1888
Reigning in Germany when the Leiber arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Silesia.
Origin & History of the Leiber Family in Germany
The surname Leiber is rooted in the Germanic linguistic tradition, likely originating as a descriptive nickname or a shortened form of personal names containing the element "lieb," which translates to "dear" or "beloved." By the mid-19th century, the family established a notable presence in the historical region of Silesia, a territory then under Prussian administration that served as a crossroads for diverse cultural and economic movements. Families with this name often worked as skilled tradespeople or laborers within the expanding industrial landscape of the region during the 1870s. As the area underwent significant social changes, the Leiber family became part of the local fabric, contributing to the agricultural and emerging manufacturing sectors that defined Silesian life. Their presence in 1872 reflects a period of stability for the family before the broader demographic shifts that would eventually disperse many Silesian families across Europe and beyond.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Lieb
Germanic term meaning dear, beloved, or pleasant.
This name
LeiberAn occupational or descriptive name for a beloved person or a favorite individual.
also spelled
Lyber
Leiber
Lieberr
Lyberr
Leeber
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
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Civil Registration Records for the Province of Silesia (Standesamt-Unterlagen), 1872
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
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
oakGreat age, strength and steadfastness
