A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gladis family of Germany.
Reg. 5673 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
Colours
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)
“D'arg. à un cerf pass. de gu. C.: le cerf, iss.”
SilesiaSilesia, c. 1765
Where the Gladis Arms Were Recorded
Map of Germany showing where the Gladis arms are recorded
The Gladis arms were recorded in Silesia, c. 1765.
Silesia was farming country in the east of the German lands, held in large estates by families who stayed put for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so the region fills a good deal of the register.
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 Gladis 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 Silesia.
Origin & History of the Gladis Family in Germany
The family name Gladis has deep roots in the historical region of Silesia, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1765. During the eighteenth century, Silesia was a vibrant area undergoing significant social and economic shifts under the influence of the Prussian state. Families living in this region often worked in agriculture, local crafts, or trade, which were the primary ways people sustained their households at the time. The name itself likely evolved from older linguistic patterns common in Central Europe, reflecting the diverse cultural landscape where German and Slavic influences frequently met. By settling in Silesia, the early members of the Gladis family became part of a long tradition of community building in a region known for its complex history and resilient population.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gladis
Derived from the Germanic element glad meaning bright or shining.
This name
GladisA name signifying a bright, shining, or joyful person.
also spelled
Gladys
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Knie, Johann Georg, Alphabetisch-statistisch-topographische Uebersicht der Dörfer, Flecken, Städte und anderen Orte der königlichen preußischen Provinz Schlesien, 1845
State Archive in Wrocław (Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu), Księgi metrykalne i akta stanu cywilnego, 1765
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stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
stagPeace and harmony, and one who will not fight unprovoked
