A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Erichson family of Germany.
Reg. 1898 · German, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'or à deux pattes d'aigle de sa., passées en saut. C.: deux prob.”
Germanyc. 1765
Where the Erichson Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Erichson arms are recorded
The Erichson arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1765.
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 Erichson 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 Erichson Family in Germany
The family name Erichson is a patronymic surname, which means it was originally formed by combining a father’s given name with a suffix indicating descent. In this case, the name translates to "son of Erich," a common Germanic personal name derived from elements meaning "ever-ruler" or "honorable ruler." By 1765, records confirm that members of the Erichson family were established in the region of Bavaria. During this period, families in southern Germany often lived in small agricultural communities where surnames became essential for tax records and church registers. As the family moved through the Bavarian landscape, they likely worked as skilled craftspeople or farmers, helping to build the local economy of the eighteenth century. This era was a time of significant social organization, and the formal use of the Erichson name helped ancestors maintain their identity as they contributed to the growth of their local villages.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Eric
Derived from the Old Norse name Eirikr meaning sole or eternal ruler.
This name
ErichsonA patronymic surname signifying son of Eric, denoting descent from a noble leader.
also spelled
Erichsen
Eriksen
Erikson
Erickson
Related arms
Erichsenvariant spelling
Eriksenvariant spelling
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, 1954
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
legStrength and swiftness
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
legStrength and swiftness
