A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Drewes family of Germany.
Reg. 2144 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Fascé-ondé d'azur et d'arg. C.: deux prob., aux armes de l'écu.”
GermanyHan, c. 1765
Where the Drewes Arms Were Recorded
Han
Map of Germany showing where the Drewes arms are recorded
The Drewes arms were recorded in Han, c. 1765.
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 Drewes 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 Drewes Family in Germany
The surname Drewes originates from the Low German region and serves as a patronymic name, which means it was derived from the given name of a father or ancestor. It is a shortened form of the name Andreas, which carries the Greek meaning of manly or brave. By the time the family was documented in the town of Han in 1765, the name had already been established for generations across Northern Germany. Families with this name were typically part of the rural or artisan classes, often working as farmers or tradespeople within their local communities. Because the name was tied to a common first name, it emerged independently in several different areas as people began to adopt permanent surnames for tax and legal identification. The presence of the family in Han during the mid-eighteenth century reflects a period when records became more consistent, allowing historians to track the movement and growth of families as they settled into specific villages and parishes.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Andreas
Derived from the Greek word for man or manly.
This name
DrewesA patronymic surname meaning son of Andrew.
also spelled
Drewes
Ostenhagen
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1982
Niedersächsisches Landesarchiv, Kirchenbücher der Gemeinde Han, 1765
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
