A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Grambow family of Germany.
Reg. 2051 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“D'arg. à une hure de sanglier de sa. Cq. cour. C.: cinq pl. d'aut.: de sa., de gu., d'arg., de sa. et de gu.”
MecklenburgMecklenburg, c. 1765
Where the Grambow Arms Were Recorded
Mecklenburg
Map of Germany showing where the Grambow arms are recorded
The Grambow arms were recorded in Mecklenburg, c. 1765.
Mecklenburg was farming country in the north of Germany, held by a small number of families who kept their estates for generations. Owning land was what entitled a family to arms, so a great many Mecklenburg names ended up 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 Grambow 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 Mecklenburg.
Origin & History of the Grambow Family in Germany
The surname Grambow is rooted in the historical region of Mecklenburg, located in northern Germany. The name is classified as a locative surname, which means it was originally derived from a specific place name. It is likely that the first families to carry this name lived in or near a village called Grambow, which served as their ancestral home. By the year 1765, records confirm that members of the Grambow family were well-established in this area. During this period, the family likely worked in agriculture or local trades, as was common for families living in the rural landscapes of Mecklenburg. Over many generations, the name became a way to identify these individuals as they moved between villages or interacted with local government officials. The persistence of the name in regional records suggests that the family maintained a stable presence in the area for centuries, deeply connecting their identity to the geography of northern Germany.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grambow
Derived from the Slavic word gram, meaning thunder or noise.
This name
GrambowA locative surname referring to individuals originating from the village of Grambow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
also spelled
Grambov
Grambo
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Heintze, Albert. Die deutschen Familiennamen, geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich. 1882
Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt. 1967
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boars headA fierce fighter who battles to the end
