A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Eirich family of Germany.
Reg. 0515 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
branchPeace, and new growth
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une colombe au nat., perchée sur un rameau d'olivier de sin. C.: une colombe au nat.; entre un vol, coupé alt. d'arg. et de gu. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Eirich Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Eirich arms are recorded
The Eirich arms were recorded in Franconia, c. 1765.
Franconia was a patchwork of small territories in central Germany, full of minor landowners and prosperous market towns. So many separate households held land there that the region produced a great many coats of 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 Eirich 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 Franconia.
Origin & History of the Eirich Family in Germany
The family name Eirich is deeply connected to the historical region of Franconia, which is located in the northern part of modern-day Bavaria. The name itself is a variation of the ancient Germanic name Erich, which combines elements meaning honor or law and a word for a powerful ruler. By the mid-eighteenth century, families bearing this name were well-established in the rural communities of this area. Life for the Eirich family in 1765 was defined by the rhythms of the agricultural calendar and the strict social structures of the Holy Roman Empire. Most individuals with this surname during that era worked as farmers or skilled craftsmen, contributing to the local economy of the small villages scattered throughout the Franconian landscape. Over generations, the family helped shape the cultural identity of their home through their participation in local parish life and regional trade.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eirichr
Old Norse name meaning ever-ruler or eternal king.
This name
EirichDerived from Germanic elements meaning honorable ruler or powerful leader.
also spelled
Eirich
Eyrik
Eerich
Eyrick
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
Staatsarchiv Bamberg, Kirchenbücher der Pfarreien im Hochstift Bamberg (Parish records of the Bishopric of Bamberg)
Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, General-Landes-Archivalien (General state records of Bavaria)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
branchPeace, and new growth
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
branchPeace, and new growth
