A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Widmar family of Germany.
Reg. 5407 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Fascé de sa. et d'or de quatre pièces; le champ chapé-ployé, à dextre de gu. à un lévrier ramp. et cont. d'arg., tenant une bannière du même, posée sur son épaule, et à sen. de sa. à un griffon d'or, tenant une flèche du même, en barre, la pointe en bas. Cq. cour. C.: quatre pl. d'aut.: de gu., d'arg., d'or et de sa., L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'or et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Widmar Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Widmar arms are recorded
The Widmar arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Widmar 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 Widmar Family in Germany
The surname Widmar originates from the Germanic linguistic tradition and is rooted in the Old High German name Widumar. This name is composed of two distinct elements, with "wid" likely referring to wood or a forest, and "mar" meaning famous or illustrious. By the time the family was established in Bavaria in 1765, the name had evolved into a common identifier for people living in or near wooded regions. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Germany were often tied to the land through agriculture or forestry, and their surnames frequently reflected the geography of their immediate surroundings. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric in Bavaria, where they maintained records of their births, marriages, and deaths within parish registers. These documents show that the Widmar family lived as settled members of the community, contributing to the rural economy and the cultural development of the region during a time of significant transition in central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Widumar
Derived from the Germanic elements for wood and famous or renowned.
This name
WidmarA surname signifying a person who is famous in the forest or woods.
also spelled
Wydmar
Widmer
Related arms
Widmervariant spelling
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
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der katholischen Pfarreien in Bayern, 1765
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
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
