A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grab family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3241 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 la fasce de sin., ch. de trois roses de gu. C.: une rose de gu.; entre deux prob., coupées alt. d'arg. et de gu., ch. chacune d'une fasce de sin.”
HolsteinHolstein, c. 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Germany showing where the Grab arms are recorded
The Grab arms were recorded in Holstein, c. 1765.
Holstein was farming country between the North Sea and the Baltic, held in large estates. The same families kept the same land for generations, and generations of holding is what fills a 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 Grab 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 Holstein.
Origin & History of the Grab Family in Germany
The surname Grab originates from the German language and is rooted in the Middle High German word "grab," which translates to a grave or a trench. In the context of early German naming customs, this name likely functioned as a topographic descriptor for a family living near a specific landmark, such as a ditch, a defensive moat, or a burial mound. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a documented presence in the region of Holstein. During this era, Holstein was a territory with complex political ties to both the Holy Roman Empire and the Danish Crown, often serving as a crossroads for trade and migration. Families living in this northern landscape were typically involved in agriculture or local craftsmanship, and they were subject to the strict record-keeping practices of the local parish churches. These records were essential for tracking births, marriages, and deaths within the community, providing a clear window into the lives of individuals like those bearing the Grab name as they navigated the social and economic changes of 18th-century Germany.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé: au 1 parti de gu. et de sa.; au 2 d'arg. plein. C.: deux prob. tiercées en fasce, celle à dextre de sa., de gu. et d'arg., celle à sen. d'arg., de sa. et de gu.”
Denmarkc. 1722
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
Map of Denmark showing where the Grab arms are recorded
The Grab arms were recorded in Denmark, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Sjaælland.
Zealand held the Danish court, the crown's offices and Copenhagen itself. Families who served the king kept estates within reach of it, and royal service was the ordinary route to a coat of arms.
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 Denmark in this period.
Frederik IV of Denmark
Sovereign of the period
Frederik IV of Denmark
1699–1730
Reigning in Germany when the Grab arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Denmark
Danish heraldry during this period was closely tied to noble status and royal favor rather than being open to all citizens. Arms were typically granted by the monarch to individuals, and these symbols were then shared by all members of the noble house. If a family line died out, the right to use those specific arms ended with them.
Granting authority
The Danish royal chancery held the power to issue and regulate official coats of arms for the kingdom.
How they got arms
Families usually received their arms through a formal royal grant that confirmed their noble status and rights.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Danish Royal Chancery records starting in the sixteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Denmark.
Origin & History of the Grab Family in Denmark
The name Grab has deep roots in the Danish landscape, with documented evidence placing the family in the region of Sjælland by the year 1722. During this period, Denmark was transitioning through a time of significant agricultural and social change, as many families lived and worked on large estates or within small rural parishes. The name itself is thought to be linked to older Germanic or Scandinavian linguistic roots, often associated with descriptive traits or specific occupations common in medieval village life. As the family established themselves in Sjælland, they became part of the local community structure, likely participating in the traditional farming practices that defined the island’s economy during the early eighteenth century. By tracking these early records, historians can see how the Grab family integrated into the social fabric of the Danish countryside, moving from generation to generation while maintaining their presence in the region.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grab
Old High German word for a ditch, trench, or grave.
This name
GrabOccupational name for a gravedigger or a topographic name for someone living near a ditch.
also spelled
Grabov
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
Kohlheim, Rosa and Kohlheim, Volker, Duden Familiennamen: Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen, 2005
Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirchengemeinden in Holstein, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
