A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Rothgeb family of Germany.
Reg. 5343 · German, P–S
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
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'arg. à un héron pass. dans des roseaux, tenant en son bec un poisson, le tout au nat. C.: deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu. L.: d'arg. et de gu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1590
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Map of Germany showing where the Rothgeb arms are recorded
The Rothgeb arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1590.
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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Rothgeb 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 Rothgeb Family in Germany
The surname Rothgeb finds its roots in the southern German regions, with documented evidence placing the family in Bavaria as early as 1590. The name is generally understood to be a compound word derived from Middle High German terms. It likely combines the word for red, which is "rot," with a term related to the act of clearing land or a specific geographic feature, such as "geb" or "gebe." This suggests that the earliest members of the family were likely farmers or settlers who worked to clear forested areas for agricultural use. During the late 16th century, life in Bavaria was defined by small village communities and the influence of the Holy Roman Empire. As the family established itself in these rural landscapes, they became part of the local social fabric that relied on land cultivation and trade within the Germanic territories. Over the following centuries, the name persisted as families moved through the region, eventually spreading beyond their original Bavarian home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Rot-Geb
Red or ruddy complexion combined with a gift or tribute.
This name
RothgebA descriptive occupational or nickname referring to a person with a red complexion who offered tribute.
also spelled
Rathgebb
Rathgebe
Ratgeb
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
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
branchPeace, and new growth
heronPatience and quiet watchfulness
branchPeace, and new growth
