A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Wittmann family of Germany.
Reg. 9849 · German, W–Z
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'or à un homme iss., posé de front, mouv. du coupé, hab. d'azur, ceint d'or, au rabat du même, tenant de sa main dextre une couronne de laurier de sin., la sen. appuyée sur la hanche; au 2 d'azur à une étoile d'or. Cq. cour. C.: l'homme du 1, iss., tenant de sa main dextre la couronne de laurier et supp. de sa sen. l'étoile du 2.”
Germanyc. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Wittmann arms are recorded
The Wittmann 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 Wittmann 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 Wittmann Family in Germany
The surname Wittmann is a classic example of an occupational name that originated in the southern regions of Germany. It is derived from the Middle High German word "witteman," which referred to a steward or an administrator who managed church-owned land. During the medieval period, these individuals held a position of significant local responsibility, as they were tasked with overseeing the agricultural output and legal affairs of estates belonging to the clergy. By the time your ancestors were documented in Bavaria in 1765, the name had become a well-established identifier for families rooted in rural land management and farming. Because the role of a steward was essential to the functioning of village life, the name spread across various Bavarian districts as families moved to serve different parishes. This history reflects a long tradition of service and agricultural stewardship that defined the lives of those bearing the name for generations.
Wittmann Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Weidemann
A person who manages or guards a piece of land or forest.
This name
WittmannAn occupational surname for a forest warden or a manager of a farmstead.
also spelled
Wittman
Wyttmann
Whitman
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
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
knightChivalry and service in arms
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
