A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dorrian family of Germany.
Reg. 0737 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Parti : au 1 d'arg. à trois trèfles de sin., rangés sur une terrasse du même et surm. d'un annelet d'or, cour. du même; au 2 d'azur à huit bes. d'or, 1, 2, 2, 2 et 1. Brl. d'or, d'arg., de sin. et d'or. C.: un avant-bras de carn., posé en pal, tenant trois trèfles de sin. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sin., à sen. d'or et d'azur.”
HolsteinHolstein, c. 1766
Where the Dorrian Arms Were Recorded
Holstein
Map of Germany showing where the Dorrian arms are recorded
The Dorrian arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1766.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Dorrian 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 Dorrian Family in Germany
The family name Dorrian has deep roots that connect to the movement of people across Northern Europe during the eighteenth century. By 1766, records confirm that members of the family were living in the region of Holstein, which is located in modern-day Germany. At that time, Holstein was a territory with a complex political status under the influence of the Danish crown. Families living in this area were often involved in agriculture or local trade, as the landscape was defined by its fertile plains and proximity to the Baltic and North Seas. The presence of the Dorrian name in this region suggests that the family was part of a mobile population that navigated the shifting borders and economic changes of the Enlightenment era. Over time, these early ancestors helped establish the foundation for the family line that would eventually spread across different countries and cultures.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Dorianus
Derived from the ancient Greek tribe known as the Dorians.
This name
DorrianA habitational name referring to an individual originating from the Dorian region or of Dorian descent.
also spelled
Dorien
Dorrian
Dorrin
Doryen
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Schleswig-Holstein State Archives (Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein), Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinden, 1766
Jensen, Wilhelm, Die Geschichte des Landes Schleswig-Holstein, 1958
Köhn, Gerhard, Die Bevölkerung von Schleswig-Holstein im 18. Jahrhundert, 1974
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
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
