A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grabow family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 5154 · 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
Where the Grabow Arms Were Recorded
Holstein
Map of Germany showing where the Grabow arms are recorded
The Grabow 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 Grabow 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 Grabow Family in Germany
The surname Grabow is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal trait. It is derived from the Slavic word *grab*, which refers to a hornbeam tree, and the suffix *ow*, which denotes a place or settlement. This suggests that the earliest ancestors of the family likely lived in or near a village named Grabow, which were common in the regions of northern and eastern Germany where Slavic and Germanic cultures interacted. By 1765, records confirm that members of the family were established in the region of Holstein. During this period, Holstein was a territory with complex political ties to both the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Denmark. Families living there often worked as farmers or artisans, contributing to the local economy and the social structure of the rural landscape. As the family grew, they moved through these northern lands, carrying the name of their ancestral village as a permanent marker of their geographic roots.
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
Where the Grabow Arms Were Recorded
Sjaælland
Map of Denmark showing where the Grabow arms are recorded
The Grabow 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 Grabow 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 Grabow Family in Denmark
The name Grabow has deep roots in the landscape of Denmark, particularly within the region of Sjælland. By the year 1722, records confirm that members of the family were already established in this area, living as part of the local community during a time of significant social change. The name itself is of Slavic origin, likely derived from the word for a hornbeam tree, which suggests that the family’s ancestors may have once lived near a forest or a specific grove. As they settled in Sjælland, the family integrated into the Danish social structure, likely working in agriculture or trade as was common for families in that region during the early eighteenth century. Their presence in the historical record during this period provides a clear starting point for tracing their long-standing connection to the Danish countryside and the evolution of their family identity over the last three hundred years.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grab
A Slavic term referring to a hornbeam tree or a grave.
This name
GrabowA habitational name for someone originating from a place characterized by hornbeam trees.
also spelled
Grabov
Related arms
Roggenbachsimilar arms
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
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1903
Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein. Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche. 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
