Map of England showing where the Germanic arms are recorded
The Germanic arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Germanic arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Germanic Family in England
The family name Germanic traces its roots to the cultural and linguistic shifts of early modern Europe, eventually establishing a firm presence in Lancaster, England, by 1620. During this period, surnames were often adopted to reflect a person’s geographic origins or ancestral heritage, and the name Germanic likely served as a descriptor for individuals associated with the broader Germanic-speaking regions of the continent. As families migrated across borders for trade or religious freedom, these names became fixed identifiers within local parish registers and legal documents. By the time the family settled in Lancaster in the early seventeenth century, the name had transitioned from a descriptive label into a stable hereditary surname. This transition highlights the way families integrated into English society while maintaining a connection to their historical identity.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Germanus
Latin for brotherly or related by blood.
This name
GermanicRefers to a person of German origin or descent.
also spelled
Jerman
Jermain
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Lancashire Archives, Lancaster St Mary Parish Registers, 1620
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
cross symbolChristian faith and service
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
