Map of Germany showing where the Brehm arms are recorded
The Brehm 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 Brehm 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 Brehm Family in Germany
The family name Brehm is a German occupational surname that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "breme," which referred to a gadfly or a horsefly. In early society, this name was often given as a nickname to someone who was considered persistent, annoying, or perhaps very busy and buzzing with activity. By the time members of the family were documented living in the city of Nuremberg in 1765, the name had become a well-established hereditary surname. During this period, Nuremberg was a thriving center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Brehms were often integrated into the city’s guild systems. These records from the mid-eighteenth century reflect a time when the family was firmly settled within the urban landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, contributing to the local economy and community life.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Bram
A thorny bush or bramble thicket.
This name
BrehmA topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of thorny bushes.
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
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
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