A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Siefert family of Germany.
Reg. 7555 · German, T–V
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
horseReadiness to serve king and country
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à un chevalier, arm. de toutes pièces d'arg., brandissant une épée du même, monté sur un cheval galopant de sa., houssé de gu., soutenu d'une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: un senestrochère, arm. de sa., posé sur le coude, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg. L. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1768
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Map of Germany showing where the Siefert arms are recorded
The Siefert arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1768.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Siefert 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 Siefert Family in Germany
The family name Siefert is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Siegfried, which combines the words for victory and peace. By the time your ancestors were established in Bavaria in 1768, the name had evolved through regional dialects and local record-keeping practices. During the eighteenth century, families in this region were often deeply connected to the land and local trade guilds. Life in Bavaria at this time was defined by agricultural cycles and the influence of the Holy Roman Empire. Because surnames were becoming more standardized during this period, the spelling Siefert likely solidified as a way to distinguish specific family branches within their local parishes. These early family members were part of a society that valued community ties and religious tradition, which helped preserve the name across generations as they navigated the changing political landscape of Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Siegfried
Derived from Old High German words for victory and peace or protection.
This name
SiefertA patronymic surname originating from a personal name meaning victorious protector or guardian.
also spelled
Sivert
Siefert
Seevert
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
horseReadiness to serve king and country
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
swordJustice, and military honour
horseReadiness to serve king and country
