A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Weier family of Germany.
Reg. 8609 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à deux fasces de gu., garnies chacune de trois crochets du même, la première fasce au bord inférieur, la sec. au bord supérieur; le tout acc. de trois roses de gu., rangées en chef (Weiher); aux 2 et 3 d'azur à deux membres d'aigle d'or, coupés de gu., passés en saut., les serres en bas. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° trois pl. d'aut., une de gu. entre deux d'arg.; l. d'or et d'azur; 2° les meubles du 2: l. d'arg. et de gu.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1648
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Map of Germany showing where the Weier arms are recorded
The Weier arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1648.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
1637–1657
Reigning in Germany when the Weier 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Weier Family in Germany
The surname Weier originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a topographic name for families living near a pond or a small body of water. Derived from the Middle High German word "weiher," the name served as a practical way to identify individuals based on their immediate surroundings. By 1648, the family was well-established in the region of Silesia, a period that coincided with the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War. This era was defined by significant social upheaval and migration, yet the Weier family maintained a presence in the area during this transition. As local record-keeping became more standardized in the following decades, the name appeared frequently in church registers and municipal documents throughout the Silesian landscape. These early ancestors were likely part of the agrarian or artisan classes who formed the backbone of the local economy during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Weiher
A small pond or body of water.
This name
WeierA topographic name for someone who lived near a pond or small reservoir.
also spelled
Weyer
Weyher
Weier
Wyer
Vyer
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
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1648
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
legStrength and swiftness
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
legStrength and swiftness
