A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brands family of Germany.
Reg. 8589 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé: au 1 de gu. à un dextrochère, paré d'azur, la main de carn. tenant un flambeau d'arg. en barre, allumé au nat.; au 2 d'azur au chev. d'or, acc. de trois étoiles du même. C.: le dextrochère, en pal, tenant le flambeau en bande; entre un vol, coupé alt. d'azur et de gu. L.: d'azur et de gu.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Brands Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Brands arms are recorded
The Brands arms were recorded in Nuremberg, c. 1765.
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 Brands 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 Brands Family in Germany
The surname Brands is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Brand. The name Brand itself comes from an Old High German word meaning a sword or a burning torch. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and skilled craftsmanship in the Holy Roman Empire. Families living there often worked as merchants or artisans, contributing to the city's reputation for high-quality metalwork and clockmaking. Records from 1765 show that members of the Brands family were active participants in this urban environment, living and working within the city walls during a time of significant economic growth and cultural development.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brand
Old High German word for fire or a burning torch.
This name
BrandsA habitational name for someone living near a clearing made by burning forest land.
also spelled
Brand
Brandss
Related arms
Brandvariant 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
Stadtarchiv Nürnberg, Bürgerbücher der Stadt Nürnberg, 1765
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
