Map of Germany showing where the Swigart arms are recorded
The Swigart arms were recorded in Kempten Bav, c. 1765.
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 Swigart 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 Swigart Family in Germany
The Swigart family name is rooted in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive surname. The name is often associated with the Middle High German word *swigern*, which historically referred to a person who was quiet or silent. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Kempten, located in the Allgäu region of Bavaria. Records from 1765 confirm that members of the Swigart family were living and working within this community during a time of significant cultural and economic transition. As these early ancestors navigated life in Kempten, they contributed to the local social fabric before many later generations eventually migrated across the Atlantic to seek new opportunities in North America.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Schweiger
A person who is silent or quiet.
This name
SwigartAn occupational name for a herdsman or a nickname for a quiet individual.
also spelled
Sighard
Sygart
Seegart
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Stadtarchiv Kempten, Bürgerbuch der Stadt Kempten (1700–1800)
Kohlhammer, W., Süddeutsches Familiennamenbuch, 1982
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Pfarrei St. Mang in Kempten, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
legStrength and swiftness
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
legStrength and swiftness
wreathHonour, and a victory crowned
