A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Weidner family of Germany.
Reg. 3980 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à un dextrochère, d'arg., tenant un tilleul arr. de sin., par le fût. C.: le bras en pal, accosté du tilleul qu'il tient par le sommet; le tout entre un vol de sa.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Weidner arms are recorded
The Weidner arms were recorded in Nuremberg, 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 Weidner 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 Weidner Family in Germany
The surname Weidner is a German occupational name that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "weiden," which refers to someone who worked as a hunter, a woodsman, or a person who tended to grazing livestock. By the time the family was established in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had become well-integrated into the urban landscape of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and skilled craftsmanship, and families like the Weidners often held roles as merchants or specialized artisans. The name reflects a time when surnames were chosen based on a person’s daily labor, linking the family’s identity to the practical skills and trades that supported the growth of German cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Weide
A pasture, meadow, or grazing land.
This name
WeidnerAn occupational name for a person who tended livestock on a pasture.
also spelled
Weidener
Waidner
Wydner
Vydner
Widner
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
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
