A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Whisner family of Germany.
Reg. 7011 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un homme iss., posé de profil, hab. de gu., les cheveux ondoyants, tenant une tige de trois feuilles de rosier mal-ordonnées de sin. C.: les meubles de l'écu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Whisner arms are recorded
The Whisner arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of arms.
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 Whisner 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Whisner Family in Germany
The family name Whisner is an anglicized variation of the German surname Wiesner, which historically identified individuals who lived near a meadow or a pasture. By 1765, records confirm that members of this family were established in the Franconia region of Germany. During this period, the name was often associated with families who worked the land or held small plots of property in rural villages. As these families began to migrate toward North America in the late 18th century, the spelling evolved to better match the phonetic pronunciation heard by English-speaking clerks at ports of entry. This transition reflects the common experience of many German immigrants who adapted their traditional surnames to fit into new communities while still maintaining their ancestral identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wiese
A meadow or a piece of grassland.
This name
WhisnerAn occupational or habitational name for someone who lived near or worked on a meadow.
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
Pennsylvania State Archives, Pennsylvania German Church Records, 1729–1870
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
knightChivalry and service in arms
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
knightChivalry and service in arms
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
