A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Braatz family of Germany.
Reg. 5555 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une ancre d'arg., posée en bande; l'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un dextrochère brandissant une épée, le tout au nat.; entre un vol de sa.”
Germanyc. 1798
Where the Braatz Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Braatz arms are recorded
The Braatz arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1798.
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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Braatz 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 Braatz Family in Germany
The surname Braatz is rooted in the linguistic traditions of Central Europe, where it likely evolved as a descriptive name or a shortened form of a Slavic-influenced personal name. By the late 18th century, records confirm that families bearing this name were established in the region of Bavaria. During this era, life in Bavaria was defined by a transition from traditional agricultural practices to early industrial development. Families like the Braatzes were often part of the rural working class or skilled tradespeople who helped sustain the local economy through farming, milling, or craftsmanship. As they moved through the landscape of the Holy Roman Empire and later the Kingdom of Bavaria, these ancestors contributed to the cultural fabric of their villages by maintaining long-standing community ties and participating in the local parish systems that tracked births, marriages, and deaths.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brat
A Slavic term meaning brother or kin.
This name
BraatzA Germanized surname derived from Slavic origins, often denoting a brother or kinsman.
also spelled
Brats
Braats
Related arms
Braatsvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien in Bayern (1798)
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich (1903)
Kohlheim, Rosa and Volker Kohlheim, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung (2005)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
anchorHope, and steadfastness in trouble
