A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Gramlich family of Germany.
Reg. 4608 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
legStrength and swiftness
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Coupé d'or sur sin.; à la fasce de gu., ch. d'un croiss. d'or entre deux étoiles du même, br. sur le coupé; l'or ch. d'un membre d'aigle de gu. aux plumes de sa., la serre en bas, empoignant deux couronnes de laurier de sin. réunies en forme du chiffre 8 couché; le sin. ch. d'un lion naiss. d'arg., arm. et lamp. d'or, brandissant une épée et mouv. d'un gabion d'or. C.: un bonnet de gu., retr. de fourrure de sa., orné d'une touffe de plumes de héron d'or, lesdites plumes posées devant cinq pl. d'aut., celle du milieu de gu., les quatre autres d'arg., la plume de gu. ch. d'un croiss. d'or. L.: à dextre d'or et de gu., à sen. d'arg. et de sin.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1741
Where the Gramlich Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Gramlich arms are recorded
The Gramlich arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1741.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often 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.
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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Gramlich Family in Germany
The surname Gramlich is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive nickname. Etymologists often link the name to Middle High German terms that suggest a person who was either stern, serious, or perhaps physically frail. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the region of Saxony, a historic area known for its deep ties to trade, mining, and agricultural development. Families living in Saxony during the 1740s often experienced a period of significant social change, as the region was a central player in the political and military shifts of the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the Gramlich family during this time were likely integrated into the local village structures, contributing to the rural economy and the cultural fabric of the Saxon landscape. As the family grew, they maintained their presence in these communities, passing down their name through generations as they navigated the evolving social hierarchies of the German states.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Kram
A merchant or peddler selling small wares.
This name
GramlichA diminutive or descriptive term for a small-scale merchant or shopkeeper.
also spelled
Gramlich
Gramlik
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
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv. Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens. 1741
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
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
legStrength and swiftness
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
legStrength and swiftness
lionCourage, strength and royalty
