A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erbach family of Germany.
Reg. 3484 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à deux glands pendants, mouv. d'une même tige feuillée de deux pièces, iss. du coupé, le tout au nat.; au 2 parti: a. d'arg. à la bande de gu., ch. de trois roses du champ; b. de gu. à une rose d'arg., tigée et feuillée de sin. C.: quatre glands, 2 et 2, mouv. d'une même tige et alternant avec quatre feuilles, 2 et 2, le tout au nat. L. d'arg. et de gu.”
FranconiaFranconia, c. 1765
Where the Erbach Arms Were Recorded
Franconia
Map of Germany showing where the Erbach arms are recorded
The Erbach 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 Erbach 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 Erbach Family in Germany
The family name Erbach originates from the German language and is classified as a topographic surname. This means the name was likely adopted by individuals who lived near a specific location, as the word combines "Erle," meaning alder tree, and "Bach," meaning brook or stream. By the middle of the 18th century, the family was well-established within the Franconia region of Germany. Historical records confirm that members of the family were living in this area by 1765, likely working as farmers or tradespeople in the rural communities of the Holy Roman Empire. During this period, families often stayed in the same village for generations, which allowed the name to become deeply rooted in the local culture and landscape of the Franconian countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Er-bach
A combination of the words for maple tree and a stream.
This name
ErbachRefers to a person who lived near a stream lined with maple trees.
also spelled
Erback
Erbacher
Erbachh
Erbak
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
Gottschald, Max, Deutsche Namenkunde: Unsere Familiennamen nach ihrer Entstehung und Bedeutung, 1971
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
