A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Carow family of Germany.
Reg. 6472 · German, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
duckResourcefulness on land and water
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à une losange de sa.; aux 2 et 3 d'azur à une canette d'arg. Cq. cour. C.: un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Germanyc. 1828
Where the Carow Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Carow arms are recorded
The Carow arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1828.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bavaria.
Bavaria was a country of old landed families and walled market towns. Estates passed down the same line for centuries, and both the landowners and the leading townsmen kept arms, which is why so many Bavarian names sit 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.
Frederick William III of Prussia
Sovereign of the period
Frederick William III of Prussia
1797–1840
Reigning in Germany when the Carow arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
Prussian heraldry was strictly tied to social rank and noble status rather than being a free choice for every citizen. These symbols were treated as permanent family property that moved through the generations to all legitimate heirs. If a family branch wanted to change their design to stand out, they had to apply for official permission to alter their specific version of the shield.
Granting authority
The Prussian Heroldsamt acted as the central state office that managed and strictly controlled all noble titles and coats of arms.
How they got arms
Families usually obtained their arms through formal royal grants or by proving their long-standing noble status to the state authorities.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms were kept in the rolls of the Prussian Heroldsamt, which functioned from 1706 until 1918.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Carow Family in Germany
The family name Carow has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in Bavaria by 1828. The name is often categorized as a topographic or habitational surname, which suggests that the earliest ancestors likely lived near a specific landmark or a defined geographic area. During the early 19th century, Bavaria was a time of significant social change as the region transitioned into a modern kingdom. Families like the Carows were often part of the rural or merchant classes who played a vital role in the local economy of small Bavarian towns. As the population grew and moved, the name traveled through various German states, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and family development that shaped the region during that era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Karl
Derived from the Germanic word for a free man.
This name
CarowA patronymic or locative surname originating from a diminutive form of the name Charles.
also spelled
Karow
Carowe
Karo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
duckResourcefulness on land and water
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
duckResourcefulness on land and water
