A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Breau family of Germany.
Reg. 5325 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'or à l'aigle de sa., cour. d'or, soutenue d'un tertre de sin. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Breau Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Breau arms are recorded
The Breau arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Breau 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 Breau Family in Germany
The family name Breau has deep roots in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. During the eighteenth century, the region was characterized by a complex social structure where surnames often reflected a family’s trade, their physical traits, or the specific village they inhabited. Families living in the Bavarian territories during this era were frequently involved in the agricultural and craft-based economy that defined the local culture. As the family grew, they became part of the regional fabric, contributing to the local community through their work and daily life. Over time, the name evolved alongside the shifting borders and political changes of Central Europe, marking the family as a stable presence in the Bavarian countryside long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bru
Old High German term referring to a marsh or swampy land.
This name
BreauRefers to a person who lived near a marsh or wetland area.
also spelled
Bro
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
