A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wiedemann family of Germany.
Reg. 9425 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
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 sauvage de carn., ceint et cour. de lierre, tenant un arbre arr. de sin. et posé sur un tertre du même. Cq. cour. C.: le sauvage, iss. L. d'arg. et de sin.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Wiedemann arms are recorded
The Wiedemann 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 Wiedemann 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 Wiedemann Family in Germany
The surname Wiedemann is a classic German occupational name that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German words "wede," meaning wood, and "man," meaning person. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely woodcutters, foresters, or timber merchants who lived and worked in the dense woodlands of central Europe. By the time the family was firmly established in Nuremberg in 1765, the name had become a well-recognized identifier for families involved in the city's thriving trade and craft industries. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for metalworking and commerce, and families like the Wiedemanns often played vital roles in the guilds that maintained the city's economic stability. As the family grew, they integrated into the urban life of the region, transitioning from their rural forestry origins into the skilled professional classes of the eighteenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wido
A Germanic personal name derived from the element meaning wood or wide.
This name
WiedemannA topographic name for someone living near a forest or a patronymic derived from the name Wido.
also spelled
Wiedeman
Wydemann
Veedeman
Related arms
Cremersimilar arms
Goedeckesimilar arms
Rouffaersimilar arms
Schmiterlöwsimilar arms
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg. Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
knightChivalry and service in arms
