A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Driesen family of Germany.
Reg. 0268 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'arg. à un corbeau de sa., posé sur la ligne du coupé; au 2 échiq. de gu. et d'arg. C.: un corbeau de sa., entre un vol d'arg. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Driesen Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Driesen arms are recorded
The Driesen arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Driesen 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 Driesen Family in Germany
The surname Driesen is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Germanic regions, specifically evolving from the Low German word "driesch," which refers to fallow or uncultivated land. Families who carried this name were often associated with the agricultural management of these specific fields, suggesting that the original bearers were farmers or landowners who lived near such terrain. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a documented presence in Bavaria, a region known for its complex social structures and deep ties to the land. During this era, life in Bavaria was heavily influenced by local parish records and manorial systems, which tracked the movement and labor of families like the Driesens. As these individuals moved through the Bavarian countryside, their name served as a link to their ancestral connection to the soil, reflecting a history defined by rural work and community stability.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Andreas
Derived from the Greek word for manly or masculine.
This name
DriesenA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Andrew.
also spelled
Drieson
Driesin
Dreesen
Related arms
Driesmanvariant spelling
Driessenvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
ravenConstancy and divine providence
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
ravenConstancy and divine providence
