A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brietzke family of Germany.
Reg. 1553 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une étoile de gu. Cq cour. C.: six pl. d'aut. alt. de gu. et d'arg. (ou: trois pl. d'aut., une d'arg. entre deux de gu.)”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Brietzke Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Brietzke arms are recorded
The Brietzke arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
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 I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Brietzke 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 Brietzke Family in Germany
The surname Brietzke originates from the Slavic linguistic roots found in the eastern regions of Germany, specifically within the historic territory of Saxony. The name is classified as a topographic or habitational surname, likely derived from the Old Sorbian word "brěza," which refers to a birch tree. Families bearing this name were historically tied to the landscape of the Elbe River valley, where they lived in small agricultural settlements. By the mid-eighteenth century, records confirm that the Brietzke family was well-established in the Saxon region. During this period, the family members were typically engaged in rural trades or farming, contributing to the local economy of the Electorate of Saxony. As the family grew, they maintained a strong connection to their ancestral lands, passing down their name through generations of laborers and craftsmen who helped shape the cultural identity of the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Briese
A Slavic term referring to a person from a birch forest.
This name
BrietzkeA locative surname denoting someone who originated from a settlement near birch trees.
also spelled
Breetska
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 Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv. Kirchenbücher der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
