A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dreger family of Germany.
Reg. 7688 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 l'aigle de sa., bq. et m. d'or, celle du 1 cont.; aux 2 et 3 d'or à deux bandes de gu. Cq. cour. C. : un vol aux armes du 2 (sur l'aile sen. les bandes sont transformées en barres). L. : à dextre d'arg., de sa. et de gu.; à sen. d'or, de gu. et de sa.”
Germanyc. 1734
Where the Dreger Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Dreger arms are recorded
The Dreger arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1734.
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.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Dreger 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 Germany.
Origin & History of the Dreger Family in Germany
The family name Dreger is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Central Europe. It is categorized as an occupational surname, which means it was originally used to identify a person by the work they performed. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "dreher," which refers to someone who worked as a turner. This person would have used a lathe to shape wood, bone, or metal into functional objects like bowls, spindles, or furniture parts. By the time members of the family were documented in Bavaria in 1734, the name had become a stable hereditary marker passed down through generations. Living in the Bavarian region during the eighteenth century suggests that these ancestors were likely part of the skilled artisan class that supported the local economy through specialized craftsmanship. As the family grew, the name spread across various towns, reflecting the movement of tradespeople who traveled to find new markets for their handmade goods.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Drechsler
A person who works with a lathe to shape wood.
This name
DregerAn occupational surname for a turner or woodworker who operated a lathe.
also spelled
Dregger
Draeger
Related arms
Wagnersimilar arms
Tauberrecorded with Dreger, same area
Zimmermannrecorded with Dreger, same area
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
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
