A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erath family of Germany.
Reg. 7106 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur au lion naiss. d'or, cour. du même. Cq. cour. C.: un écusson des armes, entre un vol de sa., chaque aile ch. de six roses d'or, posées 2, 1, 2 et 1.”
GermanyNassau, c. 1765
Where the Erath Arms Were Recorded
Nassau
Map of Germany showing where the Erath arms are recorded
The Erath arms were recorded in Nassau, c. 1765.
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 Erath 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 Erath Family in Germany
The family name Erath has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it functioned as a topographical surname. Such names were often given to people based on the specific landscape where they lived, and the root word suggests a connection to land or earth. By the mid-eighteenth century, members of the family were firmly established in the Nassau region, which is located in modern-day Germany. Historical records confirm that the family was present in this area by 1765, living through a period of significant social and political change. During this time, families in Nassau often worked in agriculture or local trades, contributing to the development of their community. This early presence in Nassau serves as a key starting point for tracing the family line as they eventually expanded into other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Erhard
Derived from Old High German words for honor and hardy or brave.
This name
ErathA patronymic surname originating from a personal name meaning honorable and strong.
also spelled
Erathh
Eratt
Erat
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Hessisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Bestand 171: Nassauische Ämter, 1765
Müller, Josef, Rheinisches Wörterbuch, 1928
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon, 1967
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
