A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meier family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 9072 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Coupé d'or sur arg., à la fasce d'azur, br. sur le tout, acc. en chef d'une aigle de sa. surm. d'une couronne impériale au nat., et en p. d'une étoile (8) d'or, entre deux roses de gu. Cq. cour. C.: une étoile (8) d'or, entre deux prob. d'azur, les embouchures d'arg. L. d'arg. et d'azur.”
GermanyBrème, c. 1743
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Map of Germany showing where the Meier arms are recorded
The Meier arms were recorded in Brème, c. 1743.
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.
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
1742–1745
Reigning in Germany when the Meier 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 Meier Family in Germany
The surname Meier is deeply rooted in the social structure of medieval Germany, originating as a title for a specific type of agricultural overseer. The name derives from the Middle High German word *meier*, which referred to a steward or a bailiff who managed land for a noble landlord or a monastery. These individuals held a position of significant local authority, as they were responsible for collecting taxes, managing harvests, and overseeing the tenant farmers who worked the fields. By the time ancestors of the family were documented in Bremen in 1743, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a hereditary surname. This shift reflected the growing importance of the middle class in German cities, where families often adopted the names of their former occupations to establish their identity within the urban community. Over several centuries, the name spread across various regions, adapting to local dialects and evolving into a common identifier for families with deep ties to land management and civic administration.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“De gu. au pal d'arg., ch. d'un vase à deux anses d'or, rempli d'une rose de gu. avec son feuillage de sin. et posé sur une terrasse du même. C.: le vase avec la rose et son feuillage. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
SwitzerlandSoleure, c. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Meier arms are recorded
The Meier arms were recorded in Soleure, 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 Meier Family in Switzerland
The name Meier is a classic occupational surname that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. In the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, a "Meier" was originally an official who managed land or collected taxes for a nobleman or a church. Because these roles were essential to the local economy, the title became a common way to identify people in a community. By the time records confirm the presence of the Meier family in the canton of Soleure in 1745, the name had long moved beyond its original job description to become a permanent family name passed down through generations. Families with this name were often deeply integrated into the social and agricultural life of the Swiss countryside, serving as pillars of their local parishes and village councils. Over centuries, the name evolved from a simple description of a person’s work into a proud identifier for families who helped build the foundations of Swiss regional society.
Meier Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
maior
Latin term meaning greater, superior, or elder.
This name
MeierAn occupational title for a steward, bailiff, or overseer of a farm.
also spelled
Meyer
Mayer
Meyr
Myer
Related arms
Maiervariant spelling
Mayervariant spelling
Meyervariant spelling
Meyrvariant spelling
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
Staatsarchiv Bremen, Kirchenbücher der Stadt Bremen (Records of the Bremen church parishes), 1743
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
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
cupFaith, office, and a trust discharged
