A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wieder family of Germany.
Reg. 7636 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un bélier au nat., pass. sur une terrasse de sin. Cq. cour. C.: le bélier, iss., entre deux prob. coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1612
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 Germany showing where the Wieder arms are recorded
The Wieder arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1612.
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.
Emperor Rudolf II
Sovereign of the period
Emperor Rudolf II
1576–1612
Reigning in Germany when the Wieder 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 Wieder Family in Germany
The surname Wieder is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of southern Germany, with records confirming that families bearing this name were established in the region of Bavaria by the early seventeenth century. The name is generally classified as a descriptive or occupational surname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "wider," which translates to "ram" or "wether." In the social structure of 1612 Bavaria, such names were often assigned to individuals based on their trade as livestock farmers or shepherds, or perhaps as a nickname reflecting a person's stubborn or bold temperament. During this period, the Wieder family lived through a time of significant religious and political tension in the Holy Roman Empire, which eventually culminated in the Thirty Years' War. As members of the rural or merchant classes, these early ancestors were part of the backbone of Bavarian society, contributing to the local agricultural economy and the development of village life long before the modern era of standardized spelling and record-keeping.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Wider
Derived from the Middle High German word for against or opposite.
This name
WiederA topographic name for someone living opposite a landmark or a nickname for a contrarian.
also spelled
Widdar
Widerr
Widere
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
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
ramLeadership and authority
