A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Obermeier family of Germany.
Reg. 5390 · German, M–O
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or au lion naiss. d'azur, cour. du champ. Cq. cour. C.: le lion, iss. - Ou: Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° le lion, iss. et cont.: 2° trois pl. d'aut., une d'azur entre deux d'or.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Obermeier arms are recorded
The Obermeier 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 Obermeier 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 Obermeier Family in Germany
The surname Obermeier originates from the German regions of Bavaria and Franconia, serving as a descriptive title for a person of specific social standing. In the medieval period, a Meier was a steward or an overseer who managed land and collected taxes for a local lord or a church official. The prefix Ober, which means upper or higher, suggests that an ancestor held a senior position among these stewards, perhaps overseeing a larger estate or managing other workers. By the time members of the family were documented in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had transitioned from a professional title into a stable hereditary surname. Living in a major trade hub like Nuremberg during the eighteenth century indicates that the family was likely integrated into the urban economy, possibly working as skilled craftsmen or merchants who benefited from the city's status as a center for commerce and industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ober-Meier
Upper or higher level steward, bailiff, or farm manager.
This name
ObermeierRefers to a person who lived or worked at the higher or upper farmstead.
also spelled
Obermayr
Overmair
Obermeier
Obermyer
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 und Einwohnerverzeichnisse der Reichsstadt 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.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
