A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Peffer family of Germany.
Reg. 3616 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au chev. ployé d'or, acc. en chef de deux étoiles du même et en p. d'une rose d'arg. C.: une rose d'arg., entre un vol coupé d'azur sur or, l'azur ch. d'une étoile d'or. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanySpire, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Peffer arms are recorded
The Peffer arms were recorded in Spire, 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 Peffer 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 Peffer Family in Germany
The family name Peffer is rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive occupational name. In Middle High German, the term "pfeffer" refers to a pepper merchant or someone who dealt in spices, suggesting that early ancestors may have been traders or grocers in bustling market towns. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Peffer family were well-established in the city of Speyer, which was a significant center for commerce and politics in the Rhineland. During this era, families often settled in such urban hubs to take advantage of trade routes along the Rhine River. As these individuals moved through the region, they carried their name into new communities, eventually contributing to the migration patterns that would later lead many families with this surname to settle in North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Piper
A person who plays the pipe or flute.
This name
PefferAn occupational surname for a professional musician or flute player.
also spelled
Pfefer
Feffer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Stadtarchiv Speyer. Bürgeraufnahmen der Stadt Speyer. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
