Created by Jackie Hundley Rader
Much of the early history of the RADER family, like a great many other families, has been lost in obscurity and very little is known concerning the early members of the family. The RADER family came from an old patrician race and this, of course, is indicative of noble rank dating back to the Medieval Ages when this family was one of the upper class in German Free Cities and Italian Republics
Centuries ago, in all probability, the original founders of the RADER families came from Albania, a small country on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, located between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.
The families migrated northward, presumably by boat to Italy. These ancestors traveled either trough the northern part of Italy or the southeastern part of Austria and settled in Bavaria, in the southwest of Germany. Over the centuries they moved throughout Germany, to Switzerland, and into the German Palatine. The western borders of the Palatine touch France and Belgium.
The crest of the RADER Coat-of-Arms as well as the upper-half of the shield itself shows an Albanian standing with right hand extended grasping a fleur-de-lis which is signifies that the early members of the RADER family were originally from Albania and were a peace-loving and friendly clan.
The meaning of the name “RADER” or “RÖDER” is old German for "clearer of the woods", "keeper of the land" or "farmer", or a person from "RADEN" (moor, reedy place), one who thatched with reed. In modern German 'RADER' translates to "wheel maker".
The RADER arms bears a golden wheel indicating that the family was skilled in the art of manufacturing wheels. The the coat-of-arms was issued in 1657 A.D. indicating the family had become one of prominence. It is thought that someone in the family was successful engaged in the manufacture of wheels
From the nature of the description of the RADER Coat-of-Arms, it appears that there was a large land grant by the Bavarian government to the RADER family in or about 1647 and that the Arms was issued and authorized at the same time.
The RADER Arms is somewhat elaborate in its make-up and is considered one of great beauty.
