A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Sailer family of Germany.
Reg. 5839 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
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 épi tigé et feuillé, posé sur une terrasse, le tout au nat.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Sailer Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Sailer arms are recorded
The Sailer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Sailer 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 Sailer Family in Germany
The surname Sailer originated as an occupational name in the German-speaking regions of Europe, specifically referring to a person who manufactured ropes or sails. During the Middle Ages, many families adopted surnames based on their trade to help identify them within growing village communities. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become well-established throughout southern Germany. These early ancestors likely lived in rural or semi-urban areas where the production of cordage was essential for local agriculture and trade. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Bavarian region, contributing to the local economy through their traditional craft. Over several generations, the name transitioned from a simple description of a worker’s daily task into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Seil
A rope, cord, or line used for binding or securing.
This name
SailerAn occupational surname for a rope maker or a worker who produced cordage.
also spelled
Sailar
Sayler
Saylor
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
