A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Schweder family of Germany.
Reg. 6521 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à un cerf naiss. au nat., mouv. d'un tertre de sin.; le champ chapé-ployé d'azur, à deux étoiles (8) d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un cerf iss. au nat., entre un vol d'azur, chaque aile ch. d'une étoile (8) d'or. L. d'or et d'azur. S.: deux aigles de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or, languées de gu.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Schweder arms are recorded
The Schweder arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Schweder 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Schweder Family in Germany
The family name Schweder finds its historical roots in the northern regions of Germany, particularly within the historic province of Pomerania. By the mid-18th century, the name was well-established in this Baltic coastal area, where families often lived in rural communities shaped by the local agricultural economy. The name itself is thought to be a topographic or occupational descriptor, likely identifying individuals who lived near specific landmarks or held particular roles within their village society. Records from 1765 confirm that the Schweder family was deeply integrated into the social fabric of Pomerania during a time of significant regional transition. As these families navigated the challenges of life in the Prussian-influenced territories, they maintained their presence through generations of farming and trade. This early history reflects the broader movement of people across Northern Europe, where family names became essential markers of identity and community belonging during the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Sweder
Derived from the Old High German elements for sweat and army.
This name
SchwederA patronymic surname originating from a Germanic personal name meaning strong warrior.
also spelled
Sweder
Schwedder
Schwederer
Shweder
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Landesarchiv Greifswald, Kirchenbücher der Provinz Pommern
Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, General-Tabellen der Provinz Pommern
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
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