A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Elrod family of Germany.
Reg. 7511 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 d'arg. à l'aigle de sa.; aux 2 et 3 fascé d'azur et d'arg. Sur le tout de gu. à la bande d'arg., ch. de trois roses du champ. Trois cq. cour. C.: 1° un vol cont. de sa., ch. d'une barre d'arg., surch. de trois roses de gu.; 2° un lion iss. d'or, cour. du même; 3° deux prob. fascées de six pièces, celle à dextre d'azur et d'arg., celle à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur. S.: deux lions reg. d'or.”
Germanyc. 1759
Where the Elrod Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Elrod arms are recorded
The Elrod arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1759.
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 Elrod 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 Elrod Family in Germany
The family name Elrod has deep roots in the historical region of Bavaria, where records confirm members of the family were established by the year 1759. The name is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, likely derived from Old High German terms that identified a person by their residence or a specific physical trait. During the eighteenth century, families in this part of Germany were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trade guilds. As the population grew, many individuals with this name began to migrate from their ancestral villages to seek new opportunities in larger towns or across international borders. This movement helped spread the name throughout central Europe and eventually to other parts of the world, marking the beginning of the family's long history of adaptation and growth.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hrod
A Germanic element meaning glory or renown.
This name
ElrodDerived from a compound meaning famous ruler or glorious counselor.
also spelled
Ellrod
Elrod
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
