A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Burggraf family of Germany.
Reg. 1166 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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'arg. sur or; l'arg. ch. d'une aigle naiss. de sa., mouv. du coupé, les ailes ch. de demi-cercles treflés d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa., les ailes ch. de demi-cercles treflés d'or. L. d'or et de sa.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
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Map of Germany showing where the Burggraf arms are recorded
The Burggraf arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of arms.
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 Burggraf 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Burggraf Family in Germany
The surname Burggraf originates from a medieval German title that defined a person’s social and professional status. The word itself translates to "castle count," referring to a nobleman who was appointed by a king or emperor to govern a specific castle and its surrounding territory. During the Middle Ages, these officials held significant administrative and judicial power within their regions. By the time the name became a hereditary family surname, it likely identified ancestors who served in these official capacities or lived under the jurisdiction of a castle count. By 1765, records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Franconia region of Germany. This area was historically significant due to its complex network of small states and strong ties to the Holy Roman Empire, providing a stable environment for families to settle and pass down their name through generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Burg-Graf
Fortified settlement and a count or administrative official.
This name
BurggrafA title for a count who held administrative authority over a fortified town or castle.
also spelled
Burgraff
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
