A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Riester family of Germany.
Reg. 7919 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“De sa. à la fasce d'arg.; à une croix latine de gu., br. sur le tout, le pied posé sur le bord inférieur de la fasce. C.: un agneau pascal d'arg., tenant une banderole du même ch. d'une croix de gu. L. d'arg. et de sa.”
GermanyRatisbonne, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Riester arms are recorded
The Riester arms were recorded in Ratisbonne, 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 Riester 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 Riester Family in Germany
The family name Riester likely originated as a descriptive occupational surname in the German-speaking regions of Europe. In many historical contexts, names ending in the suffix -er often identified a person by their trade or their place of origin. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in Ratisbonne, which is the French name for the city of Regensburg in Bavaria. Records from 1765 confirm that family members were living in this historic city, which served as a major political and religious center along the Danube River. During this era, the family would have been part of a society shaped by the traditions of the Holy Roman Empire. Their residency in such a prominent urban hub suggests they were likely involved in the active trade, craft, or administrative life that defined the city during the Enlightenment period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ries
A giant or a person of exceptionally large physical stature.
This name
RiesterAn occupational or descriptive name for a person of great size.
also spelled
Pryester
Preester
Priest
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bauer, Hermann, Regensburg in seiner Vergangenheit und Gegenwart, 1883
Stadtarchiv Regensburg, Bürgeraufnahmen und Zunftprotokolle der Stadt Regensburg, 1760–1770
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
