A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Glas family of Germany.
Reg. 3799 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 deux demi-vols adossés d'arg., ch. chacun d'une fasce d'azur. Cq. cour. C.: les meubles de l'écu.”
BavariaBavaria, c. 1765
Where the Glas Arms Were Recorded
Bavaria
Map of Germany showing where the Glas arms are recorded
The Glas arms were recorded in Bavaria, c. 1765.
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 Glas 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 Bavaria.
Origin & History of the Glas Family in Germany
The surname Glas is a descriptive occupational name that originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe. In Middle High German, the word "glas" referred to a person who worked with glass, such as a glassblower or a glazier. Because these craftsmen were essential to building and trade, the name appeared in various records as families settled into specific towns. By 1765, historical documentation confirms that members of the Glas family were well-established in Bavaria. During this period, Bavaria was a region defined by its strong craft guilds and agricultural traditions, which likely provided a stable environment for the family to grow. As the family moved and expanded across the region, the name remained a clear link to their ancestors who mastered the delicate art of glassmaking.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Glas
Germanic word referring to a smooth, shiny, or transparent substance.
This name
GlasAn occupational surname for a glassmaker or a nickname for someone with a glassy appearance.
also spelled
Jlass
Glas
Glase
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
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wingSwiftness, and protection under a raised wing
