A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rohrbaugh family of Germany.
Reg. 4209 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 parti-émanché de trois pièces de sa. sur arg. (Rohrbach); aux 2 et 3 taillé-enclavé de deux pièces d'arg. sur azur (Ebron de Wildenberg). Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un chapeau pyramidal d'or, cour. du même, sommé de cinq pl. d'aut. de sa. et retr. aux armes du 1; 2° deux prob. de sa., ornées à l'ext. de plumes de paon au nat.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1623
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Map of Germany showing where the Rohrbaugh arms are recorded
The Rohrbaugh arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1623.
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.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Rohrbaugh 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 Rohrbaugh Family in Germany
The family name Rohrbaugh originates from the German regions of Bavaria and the Palatinate, with documented records placing the family in these areas as early as 1623. The name itself is derived from the German words Rohr, meaning reed or pipe, and Bach, meaning a stream or brook. This suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a marshy creek or a stream where reeds grew in abundance. During the seventeenth century, the family lived through the turbulent era of the Thirty Years' War, which caused significant displacement across Central Europe. Many individuals carrying this name were farmers or craftsmen who maintained deep ties to their local village communities. As the region faced economic hardship and religious conflict, some family members eventually began the long journey toward the American colonies in search of new opportunities and stability.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rohr-Bach
Reed or cane growing near a stream or brook.
This name
RohrbaughA habitational name for someone who lived near a reed-filled stream.
also spelled
Rorbach
Rohrbak
Rorbak
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Breuilly, John, The Formation of the First German Nation-State, 1800-1871, 1996
Kremer, Bernd, Die Pfalz: Eine Geschichte, 2005
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinden in Bayern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
