A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bröcker family of Germany.
Reg. 3858 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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'arg. à un roc d'échiquier de sa., posé en bande, la partie supérieure en forme de fleur-de-lis. Cq. cour. C.: un cerf iss., au nat.”
PomeraniaPomerania, c. 1765
Where the Bröcker Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Bröcker arms are recorded
The Bröcker arms were recorded in Pomerania, c. 1765.
Pomerania was flat farming country on the Baltic coast, held in large estates by a small number of families. They kept their land for generations, and generations of landholding is what fills 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 Bröcker 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 Pomerania.
Origin & History of the Bröcker Family in Germany
The name Bröcker is rooted in the Low German language and is classified as a topographic surname. It originates from the word *Brook*, which refers to a marshy area, a swamp, or a piece of low-lying land near a river. Families who took this name likely lived near such terrain, which was a common way to identify people in rural communities before the use of formal street addresses. By 1765, records confirm that members of the Bröcker family were well-established in the Pomerania region. During this period, Pomerania was a diverse area with a complex history of shifting borders and agricultural development. Families like the Bröckers were often part of the farming or land-working classes who helped clear and cultivate the damp, fertile soil typical of the Baltic coastline. Their presence in the region suggests a long-standing connection to the land and a history tied to the traditional village life of Northern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brok
A Middle Low German term for a marsh, swamp, or bog.
This name
BröckerAn occupational or topographic name for someone who lived near or worked on marshland.
also spelled
Broeker
Broker
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
Landesarchiv Greifswald, Kirchenbücher der Provinz Pommern
Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, General-Tabellen der Provinz Pommern
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
chess rookStrategy, and the defence of a position
