A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Brockes family of Germany.
Reg. 4317 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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)
“Coupé d'un trait, parti de deux autres, qui font six quartiers: aux 1 et 6 d'arg. à trois los. de sa., 2 et 1, acc. en point du chef d'une étoile (8) de gu.; au 2 d'arg. à trois épis feuillés, de sin., rangés sur une terrasse du même; aux 3 et 4 d'arg. à trois barres de gu.; au 5 de gu. à deux cygnes d'arg., nageant dans une eau au nat.”
HolsteinHolstein, c. 1765
Where the Brockes Arms Were Recorded
Holstein
Map of Germany showing where the Brockes arms are recorded
The Brockes arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1765.
Holstein was farming country between the North Sea and the Baltic, held in large estates. The same families kept the same land for generations, and generations of holding is what fills a register.
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 Brockes 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 Holstein.
Origin & History of the Brockes Family in Germany
The family name Brockes is deeply rooted in the northern German region of Holstein, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1765. The name itself is likely topographic in origin, derived from the Middle Low German word "brok," which refers to a marshy area or a swampy meadow. Families during this period often took names that described the specific landscape where they lived or worked. As the Brockes family settled in the fertile but damp terrain of Holstein, they became part of the local agricultural and social fabric. Over time, the name evolved alongside the linguistic shifts of the region, eventually becoming a distinct identifier for those living near these low-lying wetlands. By the mid-18th century, the family was integrated into the local community, contributing to the development of the rural landscape that defined their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brok
Middle Low German term for a marshy or swampy area.
This name
BrockesRefers to a person who lived near or worked on a marshland or bog.
also spelled
Brokes
Brocckes
Brockess
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Schütze, Johann Friedrich, Holsteinisches Idiotikon: Ein Beitrag zur Volkssittengeschichte, 1800
Zoder, Rudolf, Familiennamen in Ostfalen, 1968
Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinden in Holstein, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
