A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brem family of Germany.
Reg. 0512 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. au lion d'or, tenant une fleur du même. C.: le lion, iss.”
GermanyNuremberg, c. 1765
Where the Brem Arms Were Recorded
Nuremberg
Map of Germany showing where the Brem arms are recorded
The Brem 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 Brem 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 Brem Family in Germany
The family name Brem originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, where it functioned as a descriptive surname. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "brem," which refers to a bramble bush or a thorny thicket. It was likely used as a topographic name for someone who lived near a dense patch of wild bushes or a boundary marked by such vegetation. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of Nuremberg. During this period, Nuremberg was a major center for trade and craftsmanship, and families like the Brems often participated in the city's robust guild system. This environment allowed individuals to build stable lives as artisans or merchants, contributing to the social and economic fabric of the region long before the modern era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brame
Middle High German term for a thorny bush or bramble.
This name
BremA topographic name for someone who lived near a thicket or 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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
