A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elbrecht family of Denmark.
Reg. 3467 · Danish, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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 de sin. à un coeur de gu., posé en bande; aux 2 et 3 d'arg. à une rose de gu., percée de trois flèches au nat., dont deux passées en saut. et la troisième posée en pal, la pointe en bas. Deux cq. cour. C.: 1º une couronne de feuillage de sin.; 2º trois pl. d'aut. de gu.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Where the Elbrecht Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Elbrecht arms are recorded
The Elbrecht arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat 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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Denmark when the Elbrecht arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Elbrecht Family in Denmark
The family name Elbrecht has deep roots in the Germanic naming tradition, where it functioned as a compound personal name derived from the elements for noble and bright. By the early 18th century, the name had established a firm presence on the Danish island of Sjaælland. Records from 1722 confirm that members of the family were living and working within this region during a time of significant social change in Denmark. As the practice of using fixed surnames became more common across Northern Europe, the Elbrecht name transitioned from a descriptive identifier to a hereditary family marker. These early ancestors likely lived as farmers or skilled tradespeople, contributing to the local community life that defined the rural landscape of Sjaælland during the reign of King Frederick IV.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adalberht
A Germanic compound meaning noble and bright or famous.
This name
ElbrechtA surname derived from a personal name signifying noble brilliance or illustrious nobility.
also spelled
Elbrecht
Elbreht
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Kirkebøger for Sjællands Stift (Parish registers for the Diocese of Zealand)
Rigsarkivet (The Danish National Archives), Folketællinger og Mandtaller (Census and tax records)
Danmarks Statistik, Statistiske Meddelelser: Navneskik i Danmark (1905)
Kruken, Kristoffer, Norsk Personnamnleksikon (1995)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
