A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grabe family of France.
Reg. 8318 · French, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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 d'arg. à l'aigle de sa.; au 2 d'azur à trois diamants à six facettes d'arg., enchassés d'or, 2 et 1. C.: un diamant de l'écu, entre un vol de sa. L.: à dextre d'arg. et de sa., à sen. d'arg. et d'azur.”
Francec. 1725
Where the Grabe Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Grabe arms are recorded
The Grabe arms were recorded in France, c. 1725.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
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 France in this period.
Louis XV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XV of France
1715–1774
Reigning in France when the Grabe arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Grabe Family in France
The family name Grabe carries a rich history that likely traces back to the linguistic traditions of Northern and Central Europe. While the name is often associated with Germanic roots, its presence in the region of Bretagne by 1725 suggests a history of migration and adaptation. During the eighteenth century, families often moved across borders for work, trade, or military service, which helped spread surnames into new cultural landscapes. In the context of Bretagne, the Grabe family would have integrated into the local community while maintaining their distinct identity. Over time, the name evolved alongside the regional dialects and administrative record-keeping practices of the era. This movement reflects the broader patterns of European history where families established new roots far from their ancestral origins.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grab
A Germanic term referring to a grave, pit, or trench.
This name
GrabeAn occupational name for a grave digger or a topographic name for one living near a ditch.
also spelled
Grabe
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Archives départementales d'Ille-et-Vilaine, Registres paroissiaux et d'état civil
Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms et prénoms de France, 1951
Morlet, Marie-Thérèse, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
eagleNobility, strength and a keen mind
lozengeHonour and nobility, and the arms of a woman
