A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Mader family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6221 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
otterOne who lives life to the full
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à la bande d'or, ch. d'une martre au nat.; et deux girons du sec., mouv. du canton dextre du chef, des deux côtés de la bande. Cq. cour. C.: une tige feuillée de sin., fleurie de trois roses mal-ordonnées d'or; entre un vol d'azur.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Mader arms are recorded
The Mader arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Mader 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 Mader Family in Germany
The surname Mader has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it originally functioned as a descriptive occupational name. In the Middle Ages, the term "Mader" was used to identify a mower or a haymaker, someone who worked in the fields to harvest grass for livestock. As people began to adopt permanent surnames, families often took on the names of their primary trade to distinguish themselves within their local communities. By the time members of the Mader family were documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had already been established for generations as a reflection of their agricultural heritage. During the eighteenth century, Nuremberg was a bustling center of trade and craftsmanship, and the presence of the Mader family in such a prominent city suggests they were part of the growing urban middle class that helped shape the region's economic stability.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'azur à une faux d'arg. en barre, le fer en bas et à dextre, la faux acc. d'une étoile d'or, posée au canton dextre du chef. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur, au rabat d'arg., coiffé d'un chapeau de sa., tenant de sa main dextre une faux d'arg., posée sur son épaule, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche. L. d'or, d'azur et d'arg.”
SwitzerlandBaden Argovie, c. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Mader arms are recorded
The Mader arms were recorded in Baden Argovie, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Mader Family in Switzerland
The surname Mader has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with a significant presence established in the Swiss canton of Aargau by the mid-eighteenth century. Historical records confirm that members of the Mader family were living in the town of Baden as early as 1745. The name itself is thought to be an occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "mader," which referred to a mower or a person who harvested hay. During this period, families often took their names from the work they performed or the tools they used in their daily lives. In the agricultural landscape of eighteenth-century Switzerland, being a mower was a vital role that supported the local economy. As these families settled in towns like Baden, they became part of the growing community of tradespeople and farmers who shaped the social structure of the region. Over time, the name became a permanent fixture in local civil and church registers, marking the family's transition from a specific trade to a recognized lineage within the Swiss cantons.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Mader
Derived from the Middle High German word for a mower or reaper.
This name
MaderAn occupational surname for someone who worked as a haymaker or harvester.
Related arms
Muggenthalsame 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
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg. Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
otterOne who lives life to the full
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
otterOne who lives life to the full
sickleThe harvest, and the reaping of what was sown
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
