A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Braunschweig family of Germany.
Reg. 6182 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 un chicot d'arg., en bande, feuillé de trois pièces, 2 à sen. et 1 à dextre.”
GermanyLunebourg, c. 1765
Where the Braunschweig Arms Were Recorded
Lunebourg
Map of Germany showing where the Braunschweig arms are recorded
The Braunschweig arms were recorded in Lunebourg, 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 Braunschweig 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 Braunschweig Family in Germany
The family name Braunschweig is a locative surname, meaning it originated from the city of Braunschweig, which is located in the northern part of Germany. In the medieval period, people often adopted the name of their hometown as a way to identify themselves when they traveled or moved to new regions. By the mid-eighteenth century, branches of the family had established themselves in the nearby city of Lüneburg. Records from 1765 confirm that family members were active residents in this area during that time. As they settled into Lüneburg, they became part of the local social and economic fabric of the region. The name serves as a historical link to the movement of people across the German landscape during the centuries before modern record-keeping became standardized.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brunswik
A settlement or dairy farm belonging to a person named Bruno.
This name
BraunschweigRefers to a person originating from the city of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony.
also spelled
Braunschweiger
Brownshwig
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
Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv (Hannover), Kirchenbücher der St. Michaeliskirche Lüneburg, 1765
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treeLife, endurance and deep roots
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
