A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rafer family of Germany.
Reg. 6563 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé de gu. sur azur; à un chevalier de profil, br. sur le coupé, le casque panaché, tenant une épée, le tout au nat., posé sur un tertre de sin. Cq. cour. C.: trois pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg. et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1792
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Map of Germany showing where the Rafer arms are recorded
The Rafer arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1792.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
1790–1792
Reigning in Germany when the Rafer 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 Rafer Family in Germany
The family name Rafer traces its roots to the historical region of Bavaria in the late 18th century. By 1792, records indicate that members of the family were established within this German territory, a time when the region was undergoing significant political and social shifts. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a localized identifier used to distinguish families living in specific rural or agricultural communities. During this period, most people in Bavaria were tied to the land, and surnames often evolved from the names of small villages or the specific trades practiced by ancestors. As the family grew, they became part of the traditional fabric of Bavarian society, contributing to the local economy and culture of their home province. Over generations, the name persisted as a marker of their regional identity and their long-standing connection to the landscape of southern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rathard
Derived from Germanic elements meaning counsel and brave or hardy.
This name
RaferA variant of a name signifying a bold or courageous advisor.
also spelled
Raufer
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bavarian State Archives (Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv), General-Landes-Direktion Records
Bavarian State Library (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek), Historischer Atlas von Bayern
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
