A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Dries family of Germany.
Reg. 3646 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à trois fasces de sa.; au canton d'arg., ch. d'une fleur-de-lis d'azur. C.: un écusson des armes, entre un vol de sa.”
WestphaliaWestphalia, c. 1765
Where the Dries Arms Were Recorded
Westphalia
Map of Germany showing where the Dries arms are recorded
The Dries arms were recorded in Westphalia, c. 1765.
Westphalia was a land of small estates and fortified farmhouses in western Germany. Its families were numerous and not especially rich, but each held its own ground, and holding ground was what brought 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 Dries 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 Westphalia.
Origin & History of the Dries Family in Germany
The family name Dries finds its historical roots in the Westphalia region of Germany. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in this area. The name itself is often considered a short form of the name Andreas, which was a very popular choice in German-speaking lands during the Middle Ages. Families in this region frequently lived in small rural communities where they worked as farmers or skilled tradespeople. Because people in the eighteenth century often moved within their local districts for work or marriage, the Dries family became part of the steady growth of the Westphalian population. Over time, the name was passed down through generations, serving as a permanent link to these early ancestors who built their lives in the heart of Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Andreas
Derived from the Greek word for man or manly.
This name
DriesA Dutch and German diminutive form referring to a manly or courageous person.
also spelled
Dries
Dreesh
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
Heimatverein Westfalen, Westfälische Zeitschrift: Zeitschrift für vaterländische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, 1965
Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen und katholischen Kirchengemeinden in Westfalen, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cantonA mark of honour granted by the sovereign
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
