A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Zander family of Germany.
Reg. 2635 · German
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Parti: au 1 coupé: a. de sa. à un poisson nageant et cont. d'or; b. d'arg. à une ancre de sa.; au 2 d'azur à trois gerbes d'or. Cq. cour. C.: sept épis d'or, tigés et feuillés du même; entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1631
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Map of Germany showing where the Zander arms are recorded
The Zander arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1631.
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.
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
1619–1637
Reigning in Germany when the Zander 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 Zander Family in Germany
The surname Zander originated as a shortened form of the name Alexander, which was a popular choice across Europe due to the influence of historical figures and saints. By the early 17th century, the name had become well-established among families living in the southern German region of Bavaria. Records confirm that members of the Zander family were present in this area by 1631, a time when the region was deeply affected by the political and social upheavals of the Thirty Years' War. During this period, families often lived in small agricultural communities where they were identified by their given names and their trade or place of origin. As the Zander name spread through local parishes, it became a stable identifier for generations of families who worked the land and participated in the growing commerce of the Bavarian towns.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Alexander
Derived from Greek words meaning defender of men.
This name
ZanderA German short form of a name meaning protector or defender of mankind.
also spelled
Sander
Related arms
Sandervariant 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
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
