A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brenn family of Germany.
Reg. 7936 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à une force d'arg., en pal; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une poule”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1804
Where the Brenn Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Brenn arms are recorded
The Brenn arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1804.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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 II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
1792–1806
Reigning in Germany when the Brenn 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Brenn Family in Germany
The family name Brenn has deep roots in the historical region of Saxony, where members of the family were documented as early as 1804. The name is believed to be topographic or occupational in origin, likely derived from the Middle High German word brennen, which means to burn. This suggests that the earliest ancestors may have been involved in clearing forest land through controlled burning to create space for farming or settlements. Alternatively, the name could have pointed to a person who worked with fire in a trade, such as a charcoal burner or a kiln operator. As these families lived in the German lands during the nineteenth century, they were part of a society undergoing significant social and industrial changes. By settling in Saxony, the Brenn family became part of a region known for its rich agricultural traditions and its growing role in the early stages of European industrialization.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
brennan
Derived from the Middle High German verb meaning to burn.
This name
BrennAn occupational surname for a charcoal burner or someone who cleared land by burning.
also spelled
Bren
Brenne
Brinn
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1804
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
cockCourage, vigilance and readiness for battle
