A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brase family of Germany.
Reg. 9893 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Parti: au 1 de gu. au dextrochère, arm. au nat., la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or; au 2 coupé: a. d'arg. à la bande d'azur, ch. d'une abeille d'or, posée dans le sens de la bande; b. coupé d'azur sur une mer au nat. Cq. cour. C.: un vol, de gu. et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1820
Where the Brase Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Brase arms are recorded
The Brase arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1820.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Brase arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Silesia.
Origin & History of the Brase Family in Germany
The surname Brase has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm the family was well-established by the early nineteenth century. The name likely originated as a descriptive term or a nickname, possibly derived from Middle High German words related to brewing or specific physical characteristics, which was a common way to identify families before the widespread use of formal surnames. By 1820, members of the Brase family were integrated into the social and economic fabric of the Silesian landscape, which was then a diverse territory marked by shifting political borders and a strong tradition of agriculture and trade. As the family grew, they moved through the towns and rural districts of the region, leaving behind a legacy tied to the development of local communities during a time of significant industrial and cultural change in Central Europe.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
bras
Old French or Middle High German term for an arm or strength.
This name
BraseAn occupational name for a brewer or a nickname for someone with strong arms.
also spelled
Brace
Brasse
Related arms
Brasvariant 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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Civil Registration Records for the Province of Silesia (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego), 1820
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
beeIndustry, order and tireless work
riverThe bounds of a land, and life carried through it
