A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Graul family of Germany.
Reg. 1070 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“D'azur à douze bill. d'arg.; à trois coeurs d'or, appointés en pairle, br. sur le tout. C.: un vol à l'antique, aux armes de l'écu. L. d'or et d'azur.”
WurttembergWurttemberg, c. 1765
Where the Graul Arms Were Recorded
Wurttemberg
Map of Germany showing where the Graul arms are recorded
The Graul arms were recorded in Wurttemberg, c. 1765.
Wurttemberg was southern German country of small estates and well-off market towns. Both landowners and leading townsmen kept arms there, so the region carries far more names than its size suggests.
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 Graul 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 Wurttemberg.
Origin & History of the Graul Family in Germany
The surname Graul is deeply rooted in the historical region of Württemberg, where members of the family were well-established by the mid-eighteenth century. The name itself is thought to have originated as a descriptive nickname, likely derived from the Middle High German word "grū" or "grau," which refers to the color gray. In medieval naming customs, such a name was often given to someone with gray hair or a person who frequently wore gray clothing. By 1765, the Graul family was integrated into the local social fabric of southwestern Germany, living through a period of significant agricultural and cultural development in the Duchy of Württemberg. As the family grew, they contributed to the local economy and community life, leaving behind records that track their movement and daily activities within the parish systems of the time. This history reflects the broader experience of many families in the region who maintained strong ties to their ancestral villages while navigating the shifting political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Grau
A German adjective meaning gray in color.
This name
GraulA descriptive nickname for someone with gray hair or wearing gray clothing.
also spelled
Dernbach
Graul
Dernbak dee Grawl
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen. 1957
Hehl, Ernst. Die Familiennamen im württembergischen Unterland. 1934
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, Bestand A 206 (Kirchenbücher und Zivilstandsregister)
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
heartSincerity, charity and true affection
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
