A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Garnes family of Germany.
Reg. 8938 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“De gu. à un dextrochère, arm. de sa., mouv du flanc, la main de carn. tenant une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, en bande. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: un chevalier, arm. de sa., coiffé d'un bassinet du même, supp. de sa main dextre une grenade allumée au nat. L. d'or et de gu.”
Germanyc. 1786
Where the Garnes Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Garnes arms are recorded
The Garnes arms were recorded in Germany, c. 1786.
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.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Germany when the Garnes 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 Garnes Family in Germany
The surname Garnes is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Bavaria, where records confirm the family was well-established by the year 1786. The name likely originated as a descriptive term linked to the occupation or the physical environment of early ancestors living in the southern German regions. During the late 18th century, families in this area were often tied to the land through agriculture or specialized trades, and the name may have evolved from local dialects used to identify individuals based on their specific village or work. As the family grew, they became part of the complex social fabric of the Holy Roman Empire, navigating the shifting political boundaries and economic changes that defined life in Bavaria during the Enlightenment. By remaining in this region, the early members of the Garnes family contributed to the local traditions and community life that shaped the identity of the area for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Garnier
Derived from the Germanic elements for spear and army or warrior.
This name
GarnesA patronymic surname indicating descent from a person named Garner or Garnier.
also spelled
Garne
Garnn
Garnes
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87