A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graser family of Germany.
Reg. 4223 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
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 gerbe de sin., liée de gu. C.: la gerbe.”
SwabiaSwabia, c. 1765
Where the Graser Arms Were Recorded
Swabia
Map of Germany showing where the Graser arms are recorded
The Graser arms were recorded in Swabia, c. 1765.
Swabia was broken into a great many small territories in southern Germany, and each had its own landowners and its own leading townsmen. That fragmentation produced an unusual number of families with 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 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 Graser 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 Swabia.
Origin & History of the Graser Family in Germany
The family name Graser originates from the German-speaking regions of Central Europe, specifically emerging as a descriptive occupational surname. In the Middle Ages, the name was likely given to individuals who worked as grass cutters, haymakers, or those who managed grazing lands for livestock. By the mid-eighteenth century, historical records confirm that families bearing this name were well-established in the Swabia region of southwestern Germany. Living in Swabia during the 1760s placed these ancestors in a landscape defined by small farming communities and a strong tradition of local craftsmanship. As these families grew, they became part of the social fabric of the Swabian countryside, contributing to the agricultural and economic life of the region long before the modern era of migration.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gras
A Middle High German term referring to grass or pasture land.
This name
GraserAn occupational surname for a mower, haymaker, or someone who harvested grass.
also spelled
Grasser
Grasier
Related arms
Grasservariant spelling
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 Familiennamen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Kirchenbücher der evangelischen Kirchengemeinden in Württemberg, 1765
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
