Meixner Family Crest & Coat of Arms

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Meixner family of Germany.

Reg. 5832 · German, M–O

Meaning of the Meixner family crest colors & symbols

Symbols on this shield

mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it

knightChivalry and service in arms

treeLife, endurance and deep roots

mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above

stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked

Colours

Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity

Red (Gules)Means: Military strength

Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth

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)

“Ec.: au 1 d'arg. à un arbre terrassé de sin.; aux 2 et 3 de gu. à la barre d'arg., acc. de trois étoiles d'or, 2 en chef et 1 en p.; au 4 d'arg. à un cerf élancé au nat., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Sur le tout d'azur à un jeune homme, hab. de gu., les bras nus, tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or. Cq cour. C.: un cygne d'arg., entre un vol de sa.”

BavariaBavaria, c. 1765

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Where the Meixner Arms Were Recorded

Bavaria

Map of Germany showing where the Meixner arms are recorded

The Meixner arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.

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.

Region: Bavaria
First recorded: 1765

Granting Authority for the Meixner Arms

Authority

Imperial grant of arms

962-1806

The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.

Sovereign of the period

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor

1745–1765

Reigning in Germany when the Meixner 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 Meixner Family in Germany

The surname Meixner is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Bavarian region, where it emerged as a descriptive occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German term "meiger," which referred to a tenant farmer or a steward who managed an estate for a landlord. Over time, the suffix "-ner" was added to indicate a person associated with that specific role. By the time records place the family in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become a well-established identifier for families working in agriculture or estate management. These early ancestors were likely part of the rural social structure that defined village life in southern Germany, where their name served as a link to their professional responsibilities and their standing within the local community.

Documented Sources