A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Widmer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 2555 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti: au 1 d'arg. à deux chev. de gu.; au 2 d'arg. à trois bandes d'azur, au lion de gu., br. sur les bandes. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1° un vol d'arg., chaque aile ch. d'un chev. de gu.; 1. d'arg. et de gu.; 2° le lion, iss., entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'arg. et d'azur; 1. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux tigres au nat.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Widmer arms are recorded
The Widmer arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Widmer 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Widmer Family in Germany
The surname Widmer is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, originating as a descriptive occupational name. It is derived from the Middle High German word "widem," which referred to land or property held by a church or a priest. People who managed these specific church-owned lands often became known as Widmer, effectively identifying them as stewards or tenants of ecclesiastical estates. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the Bavarian region, where the name appeared in local civil and parish records by 1765. During this era, families with this name were typically integrated into the agricultural and administrative life of the Bavarian countryside, serving as integral members of their local village communities. As the name spread through southern Germany, it remained closely tied to the history of land management and the evolving social structures of the rural German states.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à une demi-ramuze de cerf en pal, accostée en haut de deux étoiles, et en bas de deux bes. et acc. d'un troisième bes. en p., le tout d'or. C.: la demi-ramure, entre un vol coupé alt. d'or et de sa.”
SwitzerlandBâle, c. 1745
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Switzerland showing where the Widmer arms are recorded
The Widmer arms were recorded in Bâle, c. 1745.
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 Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Widmer Family in Switzerland
The family name Widmer is deeply rooted in the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it originated as a descriptive occupational surname. Derived from the Middle High German word "widem," which referred to land held by a church or a priest, the name was likely given to individuals who managed these specific properties or lived on ecclesiastical estates. By the time members of the family were documented in Basel in 1745, the name had already been established for centuries across the Swiss plateau as a common identifier for farmers and landholders. Because Switzerland maintained a decentralized system of local citizenship, families like the Widmers often remained in the same regions for generations, deeply integrated into the social and economic life of their cantons. Their presence in a major urban center like Basel by the mid-18th century suggests a transition from rural agricultural roots toward the trade and professional networks that defined the growing Swiss cities of that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wideme
A person who manages or works on a farm or meadow.
This name
WidmerAn occupational surname for a farmer or someone who manages a meadow.
also spelled
Widmar
Widmerr
Widmere
Related arms
Widmarvariant 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
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
lionCourage, strength and royalty
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
